Paramagnetic signature of microcrystalline silicon carbide

Abstract. The most important challenge on the way to optimized solar cells is to make the thickness of the individual layers smaller than the diffusion length of the charge carriers, in order to keep the collection efficiency close to unity. Here, we propose ß-SiC microcrystals grown by a sol-gel based process as a promising acceptor material. The samples are characterized by optical spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). With the help of band structures for selected surface states calculated in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) a possible scenario for the observed acceptor process is discussed

Characterization of fiber matrix interface of continuous-discontinuous fiber reinforced polymers on the microscale

In lightweight constructions fiber reinforced polymers are an important material group. They combine low density with high strength and stiffness. The characterization of fiber reinforced polymers includes the characterization of the fibers, the matrix and the intermediate interface. The fibers and the matrix can be characterized on the neat materials. Single fiber tests are typically used to characterize the interface. However, the interaction between different fibers inside a composite is not taken into account in a single fiber test. The investigated sheet molding compound (SMC) has a bundle arrangement of the fibers, where the contact of different fibers is very close and therefore also the fiber-fiber interaction has a high influence. Here we investigate the micromechanical behavior o f hourglass shaped micro specimens with several hundreds of fibers with quasistatic tensile tests. For the interface characterization the microstructure of the specimens is rebuilt in a simulation. The glass fibers are modeled as linear elastic, the matrix as hyperelastic and the interface by means of a cohesive zone model

Atomic Structure of Interface States in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells

Combining orientation dependent electrically detected magnetic resonance EDMR and g tensor calculations based on density functional theory DFT we assign microscopic structures to paramagnetic states involved in spin dependent recombination at the interface of amorphous crystalline silicon a Si H c Si heterojunction solar cells. We find that i the interface exhibits microscopic roughness, ii the electronic structure of the interface defects is mainly determined by c Si, iii identify the microscopic origin of the conduction band tail state in the a Si H layer and iv propose a detailed recombination mechanis

Age constraints on faulting and fault reactivation: a multi-chronological approach.

Movement within the Earth’s upper crust is commonly accommodated by faults or shear zones, ranging in scale from micro-displacements to regional tectonic lineaments. Since faults are active on different time scales and can be repeatedly reactivated, their displacement chronology is difficult to reconstruct. This study represents a multi-geochronological approach to unravel the evolution of an intracontinental fault zone locality along the Danube Fault, central Europe. At the investigated fault locality, ancient motion has produced a cataclastic deformation zone in which the cataclastic material was subjected to hydrothermal alteration and K-feldspar was almost completely replaced by illite and other phyllosilicates. Five different geochronological techniques (zircon Pb-evaporation, K–Ar and Rb–Sr illite, apatite fission track and fluorite (U-Th)/He) have been applied to explore the temporal fault activity. The upper time limit for initiation of faulting is constrained by the crystallization age of the primary rock type (known as “Kristallgranit”) at 325 ± 7 Ma, whereas the K–Ar and Rb–Sr ages of two illite fractions <2 μm (266–255 Ma) are interpreted to date fluid infiltration events during the final stage of the cataclastic deformation period. During this time, the “Kristallgranit” was already at or near the Earth’s surface as indicated by the sedimentary record and thermal modelling results of apatite fission track data. (U–Th)/He thermochronology of two single fluorite grains from a fluorite–quartz vein within the fault zone yield Cretaceous ages that clearly postdate their Late-Variscan mineralization age. We propose that later reactivation of the fault caused loss of helium in the fluorites. This assertion is supported by geological evidence, i.e. offsets of Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments along the fault and apatite fission track thermal modelling results are consistent with the prevalence of elevated temperatures (50–80°C) in the fault zone during the Cretaceous