The Effect of the Growth Condition on the Properties of the New Material Sn3Sb2S6 Thin Films

Sulfosalt Sn3Sb2S6 material was synthesised by the horizontal Bridgman method. X-rays diffraction analysis of the powder showed that only homogenous Sn3Sb2S6 phase is present in the ingot. Sn3Sb2S6 thin films were deposited by a single source vacuum thermal evaporation with different thicknesses on glass substrates. The optical and structural properties of the films were studied as a function of thicknesses and temperature substrates. It is interest to note that Sn3Sb2S6 films exhibit polycrystalline structures along (416) preferred plane without heating the substrates. In addition, we note that as the thickness increases from 150 nm to 430 nm the average grain size increases from 190 to 350 °A. The samples have direct bandgap energies of 1.5 - 1.75 eV. Furthermore, we found that the absorption coefficient in all cases reached 104 cm−1. So, Sulfosalt Sn3Sb2S6 thin films could be used as a potential candidate in may technological applications such as photovoltaic solar cell

Approach for Integrating Indirect Evaporative Cooling System into Contemporary Architecture

Nowadays, the knowledge of building ecology focuses on energy efficiency and how to integrate environmental and climatic parameters into HVAC and thus enhances space qualities such as comfort ability. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the rule of Indirect Evaporative Cooling systems in sustainability of contemporary architecture in hotarid and hot-humid climate. An approach for integrating a novel Sub-Wet Bulb Temperature Evaporative cooler into contemporary architecture is presented. The system uses porous clay materials, as wet media, embedded with heat pipes heat exchangers, the supply air and working air flows were staged in separate ducts and in counter flow direction. Modelling and experimental results show that supply air would be cooled to below wet bulb temperature achieving a considerable cooling capacity and effectiveness. This performance would make the system a potential alternative to conventional mechanical air conditioning systems in buildings.Qatar National Research , NPRP grant No. 4 -407 -2 -15

STRUCTURAL, OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF ANNEALED Sb-DOPED CuInS 2 THIN FILMS GROWN BY THERMAL EVAPORATION METHOD

Structural optical and electrical properties of undoped and Sb-doped CuInS 2 thin films grown by single source thermal evaporation method on corning 7059 glass substrates heated at 100°C were studied. Sb species was mixed in the starting powders. The amount of the Sb source was determined to be in the range 0-4 Wt % molecular weight compared with the CuInS 2 alloy source. The films were annealed in vacuum at temperature of 200°C and in air atmosphere at temperature of 400°C for 2h. The effect of these annealing atmospheres on the properties of the films was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical reflection and transmission and resistance measurement. All the CuInS 2 /Sb films have relatively high absorption coefficient between 2.10 4 cm -1 and 10 5 cm -1 in the visible and the near-IR spectral range. We found that Sb-doped CuInS 2 thin films exhibit p-type conductivity and air annealing exhibit n-type conductivity

Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Root-Zone Drying Irrigation Technique under Different Nitrogen Rates on Water Use Efficiency for Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Semi-arid Conditions (I)

An investigation was carried out at the Technical Center of Potato and Artichoke CTPTA in the region of Saida, located in the lower valley of Medjerda river during the season of 2017. The objective was to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) and the root-zone drying irrigation technique (PRD) under different nitrogen rates on total dry matter production (TDM), water consumption (WC) and water use efficiency of potato (Solanum Tuberosum L. VS. Spunta). Three water treatments (T1 = FI = 100% ETC, T2 = DI = 75% ETC and T3 = PRD50) and three nitrogen rates (F1 = N150: 150 kg N ha-1, F2 = N75: 75kg N ha-1, F3 = N0: 0kg N ha-1) were applied since the tuber initiation (55 days after planting) to maturity (100 days after planting). The results showed that the water regime affected negatively the total dry matter accumulation. A decline of 7 and 18.6% was registered in the two treatments T2 and T3 compared to the control T1. The WC decreased during water restriction respectively by 16; 33 and 29% for the T2 and T3 (PRD50 left) and T3 (PRD50 right) compared to T1. For the three nitrogen treatments (F1, F2 and F3) the water restriction has increased the WUE. The best values was recorded in the treatment T2 and then in the treatment T3 from where this increase compared to T1 was equal to (22.6% and 12.9%), (24.1% and 12, 4%) and (21.9% and 15.3%) respectively

Impact of Deficit Irrigation (DI) and Root-Zone Drying Irrigation Technique (PRD) under Different Nitrogen Rates on Radiation Use Efficiency for Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Semi-arid Conditions (II)

The study was carried out at the Technical Center of Potato and Artichoke CTPTA located in the lower valley of Medjerda river of Tunisia during the season of 2017. The purpose was to estimate the impact of deficit irrigation (DI) and the root-zone drying irrigation technique (PRD) under different nitrogen rates on photo synthetically active radiation absorbed and radiation use efficiency for Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L. VS. Spunta). Three water treatments (T1= 100% ETC, T2 = DI = 75% ETC and T3 = PRD50) and three nitrogen rates (F1 = N150: 150 kg N ha-1, F2 = N75: 75kg N ha-1, F3 = N0: 0kg N ha-1) were applied since the tuber initiation (55 days after planting) to maturity (100 days after planting). The deficit irrigation T2 has no effect on PARabs. Besides, the PRD50 has led to a reduction in PARabs. This decrease compare to T1 was equal to (8.9; 9.9 and 7.9%) respectively for the three treatments (F1; F2 and F3). The nitrogen deficit affects negatively the PARabs. An improvement of 13.2%, 11.2% and 12.2% of the F1 compared to the F3, respectively for the three water treatments (T1, T2 and T3). The T2 has no effect on RUE TDM. Conversely, the PRD50 has led to a reduction in RUE TDM. This decline referee against T1 was equal to (12.7; 17.4 and 21.5%) respectively for the three treatments (F1; F2 and F3). For RUEGY statistical analysis showed significant (P < 0.05) difference between the three irrigation treatments (T0, T1 and T2) for the three nitrogen treatments (F1; F2 and F3). The T2 and the PRD50 has led to a reduction in RUE GY. This decrease judge against T1 respectively for the two treatments (F2 and F3) was equal to (14.9 and 21.5%) and (19.6 and 31.2%)

Underground thermal energy storage in subarctic climates: A feasibility study conducted in Kuujjuaq (QC, Canada)

Underground thermal energy storage can provide space and water heating and has been used in temperate climates so far. A step forward is to evaluate the efficiency and viability in arctic to subarctic environments, where rather low ground and air temperatures can make the design of such systems difficult. The present contribution describes the design of an underground storage system in Kuujjuaq (Québec, Canada) to heat the drinking water distributed in the town. The system was designed and modeled with TRNSYS and a parametric study was carried out to improve its efficiency based on 5-year simulations. The 20% of the 425 MWh annual demand can be satisfied by a solar collector area of 500 m2 coupled to a 10,000 m3 underground storage through two short term tanks. Further improvements could be adopted to reach the target of 50% energy from the underground store

Investigation of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 thin films co-evaporated from two metal sources for photovoltaic solar cells

 CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) thin films were grown by co-evaporation using two sources for the metal elements (Cu, Ga and In). A Mo coated soda lime glass substrates heated at 500 °C was used for the deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm that these films are polycrystalline with a chalcopyrite structure and showed homogeneous grain size estimate about 25 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed to analyse the binding energy values of Ga3d and O1s onto CIGSe layers. The conductivity measurements in the temperature range of 40-400 K were carried out for 0.05≤ x ≤ 0.23. The effect of grain boundary scattering on the electrical transport played an important role in describing the transport processes in these films. The bowing factor is discussed taking into account the deposition techniques of CIGS films. It has been noticed that the open circuit voltage (Voc) is influenced by Ga content and the energy gap value of the absorber CIGS thin layers and yielded a poor efficiency of solar cells

X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy Studies of CuIn2n+1S3n+2 Thin Films

CuIn2n+1S3n+2 (where n = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5) thin films were deposited at different substrate temperatures (30, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ◦C) by vacuum evaporation. The films were characterized for their structural properties by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). From the XRD data, we calculated the grain size, the lattice strain, the lattice parameters and the dislocation density for the preferential orientation of CuIn2n+1S3n+2 thin films. The effect of the substrate temperature on the structural crystalline quality of the films was also investigated

Comparative study of optical properties of the one-dimensional multilayer Period-Doubling and Thue-Morse quasi-periodic photonic crystals

The last decades have witnessed the growing interest in the use of photonic crystal as a new material that can be used to control electromagnetic wave. Actually, not only the periodic structures but also the quasi-periodic systems have become significant structures of photonic crystals. This work deals with optical properties of dielectric Thue-Morse multilayer and Period-Doubling multilayer. We use the so-called Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) to determine the transmission spectra of the structures. Based on the representation of the transmittance spectra in the visible range a comparative analysis depending on the iteration number, number of layers and incidence angle is presented