ZnO nanostructures as efficient antireflection layers in solar cells

An efficient antireflection coating (ARC) can enhance solar cell performance through increased light coupling. Here, we investigate solution-grown ZnO nanostructures as ARCs for Si solar cells and compare them to conventional single layer ARCs. We find that nanoscale morphology, controlled through synthetic chemistry, has a great effect on the macroscopic ARC performance. Compared with a silicon nitride (SiN) single layer ARC, ZnO nanorod arrays display a broadband reflection suppression from 400 to 1200 nm. For a tapered nanorod array with average tip diameter of 10 nm, we achieve a weighted global reflectance of 6.6%, which is superior to an optimized SiN single layer ARC. Calculations using rigorous coupled wave analysis suggest that the tapered nanorod arrays behave like modified single layer ARCs, where the tapering leads to impedance matching between Si and air through a gradual reduction of the effective refractive index away from the surface, resulting in low reflection particularly at longer wavelengths and eliminating interference fringes through roughening of the air-ZnO interface. According to the calculations, we may further improve ARC performance by tailoring the thickness of the bottom fused ZnO layer and through better control of tip tapering.     

Gelatin layers for holographic purposes: an X-ray diffraction study

In order to overcome uniformity problems in large u.v. holoconcentrators recorded in dichromated gelatin, the structure of hardened gelatin layers has been studied. X-ray diffraction patterns show that layers are formed by individual gelatin chains partly associated as triple-stranded helical rods as those found in native collagen. These rods, in turn, may form fibrillar aggregates. Helical rods and microfibrils are, to a great extent, parallel to the layer surface and their relative amount and packing depend on the hardener as well as on temperature and drying time after coating. X-ray diffraction offers the possibility of estimating in a simple manner the relative amount of triple-helical rods in crystallographic register within the gelatin layers. From these results, a method for obtaining uniform large holograms by means of a slow layer drying process is proposed.     

Characterization of calcium phosphate layers grown on polycaprolactone for tissue engineering purposes

Composites fabricated by biomimetic mineral precipitation on polymeric substrates are of interest for tissue engineering. As biological properties of such mineral layers vary with slight changes in composition, a good physical characterization is necessary in order to study their biological activity. In this work polycaprolactone sheets were subjected to air plasma treatment followed by nucleation of calcium phosphate seeds to activate the growth of an apatite-like coating when immersing in simulated body fluid. Two compositions of the SBF were prepared, one of them highly carbonated and the other with no carbonate or magnesium ions. Immersion of PCL in the high carbonate composition produced a low-crystallinity apatite-like layer while the absence of carbonate and magnesium ions yielded a high crystallinity apatite with low Ca/P ratio that is likely partially hydrolyzed octacalciumphosphate (OCP). The morphology, crystal structure and composition of both types of coatings were characterized; osteoblast-like cell adhesion behaviour on different surfaces was observed by fluorescence and electron microscopy.     

Bi-layer gravure printed nanoscale thick organic layers for organic light emitting diode

The gravure printed single layer structure and bi-layer structure of MEH-PPV/rubrene organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) were investigated in this work. Typically, the formation of bi-layers in polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) is challenging. The brightness and efficiency polymer light emitting materials were enhanced by the gravure printed bi-layer structure in this work. The layer structure of the OLED devices was glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/active layer/LiF/Al. The active layers were made using two different processes-one was a gravure printed single organic layer made of a blended mixture of MEH-PPV and rubrene, and the other was a gravure printed bi-layer of MEH-PPV and rubrene. The gravure printed bi-layer devices exhibited a higher brightness and efficiency than the blended devices. The efficiency of the bi-layer MEH-PPV/rubrene structure was improved by a factor of 1.6 approximately 3.2, and the brightness was improved by a factor of 1.9 approximately 2.0 compared to the blended single layer structure. This work demonstrated that organic bi-layers could be formed using gravure printing technology and the bi-layer structure exhibited a higher efficiency than the blended single layer structure.     

Transport phenomena in thin organic layers

Electronic transport phenomena in thin polycrystalline organic films were studied using transient currents and a.c. techniques. The results obtained for tetracene and p-terphenyl layers are very similar and may be explained by a hopping model. Additional effects are caused by inter-grain barriers. The heights of these barriers (0.07–0.08 eV) are reduced by an external electric field.     

Thermally stimulated currents in organic monomolecular layers

The polarization phenomenon in metal/organic monomolecular layer/metal devices has been studied by thermally stimulated currents (TSCs). The thermal current peaks for various experimental conditions (temperature, electric field, polarization time, dielectric thickness) show that the polarization in orthophenanthroline with three stearic chains is due to local charge displacements between two potential wells. We found that these charge displacements vary as the thickness increases, which implies that the dielectric structure changes when the number of monolayers increases.The high values of the activation energies (1.1–3.4 eV) determined from the current peaks suggest that the moving charges are ions. In orthophenanthroline multilayers at room temperature we have not observed a notable space charge phenomenon due to ion displacements from one electrode to the other.     

Preparation and characterization of organic layers for UV protection of polycarbonate

In many applications, polycarbonate surfaces need to be coated as a protection against abrasion and decomposition caused by weathering. In particular, UV radiation during exposure to sunlight degrades polycarbonate, which causes delamination of the protective layer. To avoid coating delamination, the layer itself needs an absorption edge near 400 nm. One option is to use UV-absorbing organic molecules. The aim of the present study was to develop UV-protective layer stacks containing suitable organic molecules deposited in a vacuum process, with a focus on the stability of UV-absorbing organic layers during UV irradiation and their optical properties. The commercial UV absorber Tinuvin™ 360 and the organic compound N,N′-di(naphth-1-yl)-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine were used. Thin layers of the organic materials were evaporated thermally. The optical properties and UV stability were investigated using UV-VIS and infrared spectroscopy.     

Expanded viewpoint for broadband antireflection coating designs

Examining spectral regions outside of the band where an antireflection coating is specified can aid in finding optimal design solutions. The reflectance versus wavenumber plots at low frequencies indicate the overall thickness of the design. These plots also point to whether the design will provide the minimum possible average reflectance in the specified band. It has been discovered that these patterns are nearly replicated by the plot of a quarter-wave stack at peak frequency. It is also found that optimal solutions exist only at quantized intervals.     

Further guidance for broadband antireflection coating design

Recent investigations have added to and refined the understanding of the behavior of broadband antireflection coating designs and provided further guidance for achieving more nearly optimal designs. The ability to optimize designs wherein the overall optical thickness of the design is constrained to a specific value has allowed this investigation. A broader bandwidth than previously reported has been studied and statistically fit more precisely by a polynomial equation, and also two linear equations for routine approximations have been derived. It has also been found that the optimal number of layers in the design can be predicted as a function of the bandwidth.     

White organic light-emitting diodes from three emitter layers

Three-wavelength white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) were fabricated using two doped layers, which were obtained by separating the recombination zones into three emitter layers. A sky blue emission originated from the 4,4′-bis(2,2′-diphenylethen-1-yl)biphenyl (DPVBi) layer. A green emission originated from a tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (Alq₃) host doped with a green fluorescent 10-(2-benzothiazolyl)-1,1,7,7-tetramethyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H,5H,11H-[1]benzopyrano [6,7,8-ij]-quinolizin-11-one (C545T) dye. An orange emission was obtained from the N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (NPB) host doped with a red fluorescent dye, 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-tert-butyl-6-(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran (DCJTB). A white light resulted from the partial excitations of these three emitter layers by controlling the layer thickness and concentration of the fluorescent dyes in each emissive layer simultaneously. The electroluminescent spectrum of the device was not sensitive to the driving voltage of the device. The white light device showed a maximum luminance of approximately 53,000 cd/m². The external quantum and power efficiency at a luminance of approximately 100 cd/m² were 2.62% and 3.04 lm/W, respectively.     

Millimeter-wave antireflection coating for cryogenic silicon lenses

We have developed and tested an antireflection (AR) coating method for silicon lenses used at cryogenic temperatures and millimeter wavelengths. Our particular application is a measurement of the cosmic microwave background. The coating consists of machined pieces of Cirlex glued to the silicon. The measured reflection from an AR-coated flat piece is less than 1.5% at the design wavelength. The coating has been applied to flats and lenses and has survived multiple thermal cycles from 300 to 4 K. We present the manufacturing method, the material properties, the tests performed, and estimates of the loss that can be achieved in practical lenses.     

Flexible top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes using semi-transparent multi-metal layers

In this paper, the improved device performance of top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TEOLEDs) with a thin multi-metal layer stack of nickel/silver/nickel (Ni/Ag/Ni) and aluminum/silver/aluminum (Al/Ag/Al) that were used as the anode and cathode on a flexible substrate is discussed. In particular, Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) as an anode electrode has been used recently even though it has some problems for flexible devices. Therefore we suggested that a thin multi-metal layer electrode as a new anode is fabricated instead of ITO anode. It was verified that the ITO-free TEOLEDs showed an enhanced probability of the recombination of the electrons and holes through an improved electron/hole charge balance. We also analyzed the optical and electrical characteristics using the current density, luminance, luminance efficiency, external quantum efficiency (EQE), CIE x, y coordinates, and EL spectra of flexible TEOLED devices were characterized. ITO-free, flexible, green-emitting OLEDs with a low cost and a simple process were demonstrated.     

Polymeric white organic light-emitting diodes with two emission layers

A white light-emitting diode was fabricated by preparing multilayer emitting films with an inserted buffer layer. The device structures are ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Emissive layer/LiF/Al. The emissive layer comprises a yellow-emitting layer of Poly[9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl]-co-1,4-benzo-(2,1,3)-thiadiazole (F8BT), a blue-emitting layer of Poly[9,9-di-(2'-ethylhexyl)fluorenyl-2,7-diyl] (BEHF) and PEDOT:PSS as a buffer layer between the emission layers. The solution processed multi-layer polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) were prepared by introduction of a water-soluble buffer layer between organic solvent soluble layers. We present white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) that has bilayer emission zones. This device exhibits a brightness of 280 cd/m2 and emission efficiency of 1.18 cd/A at 12.6 V. The device with a doped PEDOT:PSS layer and a thicker blue-emission layer exhibits CIE color coordinates of (0.30, 0.34), which is close to the white coordinates of (0.33, 0.33) used by the standard CIE color coordinates.     

Universal antireflection coatings for substrates for the visible spectral region

It is possible to design normal-incidence antireflection coatings that reduce the reflectance of any substrate with a refractive index that lies in the range of 1.48 to 1.75. The performance of such coatings depends on the width of the spectral region over which the reflectance is to be suppressed, on the coating materials used for their construction, and on the overall optical thickness of the layer system. For example, the calculated average spectral reflectance of a set of six different substrates with refractive indices 1.48, 1.55, 1.60, 1.65, 1.70, and 1.75, when coated with a 0.56-μm-thick, eight-layer antireflection coating designed for the 0.40-0.80-μm spectral region, was 0.34%. This is higher than the average reflectance that is attainable with a conventional antireflection coating of similar optical thicknesses designed for a particular refractive index. However, it is an acceptable value for most applications. With the universal type of antireflection coating described, it is thus possible to coat a number of different refractive-index substrates in one deposition run, and this can result in considerable cost and time savings.     

High-inductance simulator for calibration purposes

A simulator of high inductance (L=10 H) based on a capacitor switching circuit is described. The dependence of the Q factor on the compensation error of the resistive component in various inductance simulation circuits is analyzed. Capacitor switching circuits are shown to have a much higher Q than resistive RC circuits. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 25–28, October, 1997.