Industrialization of Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition for thin film applications

AbstractThe consequences of implementing a Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition (HWCVD) chamber into an existing in-line or roll-to-roll reactor are described. The hardware and operation of the HWCVD production reactor is compared to that of existing roll-to-roll reactors based on Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition. The most important consequences are the technical consequences and the economic consequences, which are both discussed. The technical consequences are adaptations needed to the hardware and to the processing sequences due to the different interaction of the HWCVD process with the substrate and already deposited layers. The economic consequences are the reduced investments in radio frequency (RF) supplies and RF components. This is partially offset by investments that have to be made in higher capacity pumping systems. The most mature applications of HWCVD are moisture barrier coatings for thin film flexible devices such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Organic Photovoltaics, and passivation layers for multicrystalline Si solar cells, high mobility field effect transistors, and silicon heterojunction cells (also known as heterojunction cells with intrinsic thin film layers). Another example is the use of Si in thin film photovoltaics. The cost perspective per unit of thin film photovoltaic product using HWCVD is estimated at 0.07€/Wp for the Si thin film component

Photoselective Metal Deposition on Amorphous Silicon p-i-n Solar Cells\ud

A novel method is described for the patternwise metallization of amorphous silicon solar cells, based on photocathodic deposition. The electric field of the p-i-n structure is used for the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The electrons are driven to the interface of the n+-layer with the solution where they reduce metal ions to metal. The large difference between the conductivity of dark and illuminated areas and the high sheet resistance of the n-type layer makes it possible to define a metal pattern by selective illumination. It is shown that both nickel and gold patterns can be deposited using this method. After annealing, an ohmic nickel contact is formed and the cell exhibits good photovoltaic characteristics

Moisture barrier enhancement by spontaneous formation of silicon oxide interlayers in hot wire chemical vapor deposition of silicon nitride on poly (glycidyl methacrylate)

We deposited a silicon nitride (SiNx)–polymer hybrid multilayer moisture barrier in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) process, entirely below 100 °C. The polymer, poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA), was deposited by initiated chemical vapour deposition and the SiNx in a dedicated HWCVD reactor. Line profile investigation of our barrier structures by cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry reveals that, upon deposition of SiNx on top of our polymer layer, an intermediate layer of silicon oxide (SiOx) like material is formed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirm the presence of this material and indicate the epoxy rings in the PGMA material open upon heating (to 100 °C) and exposure to atomic hydrogen and amine species in the HWCVD process. The oxygen atoms subsequently react with silicon and nitrogen containing radicals to form SiOxNy. The interlayer turns out to be highly beneficial for interlayer adhesion and this is considered to be one of the reasons for the excellent barrier properties of our multilayer

Optical response of silver nanoneedles on a mirror

Plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures are appealing due to their potential to enhance photovoltaics or sensing performance. Our aim was to identify the plasmonic characteristics of silver nanoneedles on a reflective layer in the polarized optical response. Experimental ellipsometry results are complemented by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations. Plasmon resonances on the nanoneedles can indeed be observed in the polarized optical response. This study reveals the details of the complex antenna-like behaviour of the nanoneedles which gives an agreement between experiment and FDTD simulation. The simulations show that the plasmon resonances lead to an effective negative refractive index, originating from the negative refractive index of the nanoneedles in combination with its supporting substrate, i.e. a mirror. This original study of a complex plasmonic system by ellipsometry and FDTD has great relevance for applications, making use of intricate light matter interaction

Интертекстуальная основа петербургской темы в новеллах А.И. Куприна

В статье проанализированы новеллы А. И. Куприна «Безумие» (1894), «Белые ночи» (1904), «Черный туман» (1905) как составляющие Петербургского текста русской литературы. Показано, что новеллы Куприна (даже если они опираются на биографический и эмпирический опыт) интертекстуально включают в себя литературу о Петербурге 19 века и в целом вписываются в контекст Петербургского текста Серебряного века.У статті проаналізовано новели О. І. Купріна «Безумие» (1894), «Белые ночи» (1904), «Черный туман» (1905) як складові Петербурзького тексту російської літератури. Показано, що новели Купріна (навіть якщо вони спираються на біографічний та емпіричний досвід) інтертекстуально включають у себе літературу про Петербург 19 століття та в цілому вписуються у контекст Петербурзького тексту Срібного віку.There are Kuprin's short stories «Безумие» (1894), «Белые ночи» (1904), «Черный туман» (1905) analysed in the hereby article as Russian literature Petrsburg text components. We can see that Kuprin's short stories even being based on the biographic and empiric experience − comprise intertextually the literature about 19 century Peterburg and fit in the context of the Silver Century Petersburg text

Погода і економіка

In this study, we present a new light absorption enhancement method for p-i-n thin film silicon solar cells using pyramidal surface structures, larger than the wavelength of visible light. Calculations show a maximum possible current enhancement of 45% compared with cells on a flat substrate. We deposited amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film solar cells directly onto periodically pyramidal-structured polycarbonate (PC) substrates, which show a significant increase (30%) in short-circuit current over reference cells deposited on flat glass substrates. The current of the cells on our pyramidal structures on PC is only slightly lower than that of cells on Asahi U-type TCO glass (Asahi Glass Co., Tokyo, Japan), but suffer from a somewhat lower open circuit voltage and fill factor. Because the used substrates have a locally flat surface area due to the fabrication process, we believe that the current enhancement in the cells on structured PC can be increased using larger or more closely spaced pyramids, which can have a smaller flat surface area

Проблемы медицинского обслуживания моряков в Украине

Стаття присвячена деяким проблемам медичного обслуговування моряків в Україні, в тому числі питанням професійних оглядів, які визначають придатність моряка по стану здоров‘я до роботи на суднах. Розглядаються проекти пропозицій до наказу, який готується і який буде регламентувати медичні огляди моряків.The article is devoted some problems of medical service of seafarers in Ukraine, in particular to the questions of professional examinations, determining the fitness of seafarer to be fit for work on ships. The projects of appendixes are examined to the preparing order, to regulating physical examinations of seafarers

3D-printed external light trap for solar cells

We present a universally applicable 3D-printed external light trap for enhanced absorption in solar cells. The macroscopic external light trap is placed at the sun-facing surface of the solar cell and retro-reflects the light that would otherwise escape. The light trap consists of a reflective parabolic concentrator placed on top of a reflective cage. Upon placement of the light trap, an improvement of 15% of both the photocurrent and the power conversion efficiency in a thin-film nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cell is measured. The trapped light traverses the solar cell several times within the reflective cage thereby increasing the total absorption in the cell. Consequently, the trap reduces optical losses and enhances the absorption over the entire spectrum. The components of the light trap are 3D printed and made of smoothened, silver-coated thermoplastic. In contrast to conventional light trapping methods, external light trapping leaves the material quality and the electrical properties of the solar cell unaffected. To explain the theoretical operation of the external light trap, we introduce a model that predicts the absorption enhancement in the solar cell by the external light trap. The corresponding calculated path length enhancement shows good agreement with the empirically derived value from the opto-electrical data of the solar cell. Moreover, we analyze the influence of the angle of incidence on the parasitic absorptance to obtain full understanding of the trap performance