Comparison between normal and reverse thin crystalline silicon solar cells

The newly developed ingot growing techniques, as the three-grain and the columnar multigrain ingot processes, are now offering the possibility of slicing thinner wafers (≤ 100 μm). In this paper we present the results obtained on p type large area (≥ 100 cm²) and 100 μm thick wafers by using both conventional and reverse cell manufacturing technologies.The conventional cells are provided with aluminium or boron BSF plus screen-printed silver mirror or a silver-aluminium net; the reverse cells have a FSF and the deep back junction completely covered by a screen-printed or CVD silver layer.The constructing parameters have been chosen on the base of one and two dimensions modeling and both raw material and devices have been completely characterized.This work shows that very thin wafers do not introduce serious problems for the conventional manufacturing of solar cells. The efficiencies of the normal and of the reverse cells are found to be comparable and are of the same order than those of thicker cells, however at a significant lower cost. The main obtained result has to be related to the demonstration of a cell manufacturing feasibility starting from very thin wafers.     

Current operational amplifiers: Basic architecture,properties, exploitation and future

This review paper describes all major considerations of the design of current operational amplifiers (COAs). It is demonstrated, that the single-input, differential-output COA as the adjoint element to the differentialinput, single-output voltage operational amplifier (VOA) is employable in current processing circuits alike the VOAs in voltage processing circuits. On an example of a basic one-high-gain-stage current-operational-amplifier architecture the procedure and the strategy of the design is explained and the main first and second order properties of this device are described. The paper is concluded showing elementary approaches of the derivation of the exploitation of the COAs in current processing circuits interreciprocal to voltage processing circuits and discussing the considerations of the exploitation of the COAs in VLSI designs.     

On connections between 3-d microstructures and their 2-d images

The problem of recovery of three-dimensional microstructural parameters from two-dimensional images is addressed in its inverse form. Three-dimensional inhomogeneous solids with known microstructures are generated virtually and images of their cross-sections are analyzed. Three different types of randomly oriented microcracks and microcracks having preferential orientation with some scatter. Somewhat unexpected result is that, in all the cases considered, three-dimensional defect densities are very close to average values of corresponding two-dimensional parameters.     

The generalized Kuhn model of linear viscoelasticity

We propose a generalization of the Kuhn model of linear viscoelasticity. This generalization, which has four material parameters, is able to provide a near frequency independent response over a wide range of frequencies. It is useful for highly dissipative materials such as asphalt concrete. It is derived by generalizing Lubliner and Panoskaltsis’s modified Kuhn model, but we also show that it is closely related to fractional derivative models. We show that the model admits a rheological approximation, that is, an approximation by classical springs and dashpots. The model and rheological representation are compared to experimental data.     

Depressed mood does not explain neuropsychological deficits in HIV-infected persons.

The relationship of depressed mood to cognitive disturbance in HIV infection was examined in a sample of 139 homosexual men. Ss were grouped according to the classification of the Centers for Disease Control: 39 were in Group IV, 62 were in Group II or Group III, and 38 were HIV-negative. Ss completed the Profile of Mood States and 10 neuropsychological tests. Analysis employing a classification approach indicated that, although symptoms of depression and neuropsychological impairment were more common in Ss who were HIV-positive, particularly those classified as Group IV, there were no systematic relationships between depression and neuropsychological impairment. Depressed mood and cognitive disturbance each seem to have unique associations to HIV illness status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chromosome comparison between populations of the collared peccary, Tayassu tajacu, raised in captivity

The collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) is widely distributed over the American continent, being found from the south of the USA to the north of Argentina. In Brazil, it is spread all over the country, being one of the potential species to be raised in captivity. Therefore, the cytogenetic techniques could be a potential tool for reproductive monitoring of animals raised in captivity, mainly when destined for commercial purposes. This study had the objective of determining the chromosome number of two populations raised in captivity and characterizing them by GTG banding. For this purpose, an analysis was made of mitotic metaphases obtained from lymphocyte cultures made from blood samples of 11 animals, six of which from the Northeast and five from the North of Brazil. The results of this analysis showed the same karyotype pattern for the species (2n=30 chromosomes and NF=48), besides corresponding to the South American pattern of the species, i.e., without a translocation between autosomes 1 and 8, chromosome X acrocentric, and no differences were found between the two populations studied. However, chromosomal polymorphisms were observed compared to data from the literature on populations from North and South America.     

Design of thermophoretic probe for precise particle sampling

We proposed a design methodology for improved thermophoretic probes that can sample particles with high spatial resolution. A bending vibration analysis for the instantaneous motion of a probe has been done together with direct observation of the probe motion and flow disturbance for systematic study of the effect of different designs on particle sampling. Direct observation of the motion of thermophoretic sampling probes revealed that the probe with a low stiffness would result in inaccurate particle sampling. Based on these, the thermophoretic sampling probe was modified to minimize probe vibration and flow disturbance and this modified design was confirmed to sample particles with higher spatial resolution than the original one by examining transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of particles collected in a flame.     

Mesomorphism of Lanthanide(Ⅲ) 4-Hexyloxybenzoates

The 4-alkoxybenzoic acids are well-known liquid crystals showing several mesophases(nematic,smectic C phase or both)depending on the alkoxy chain length and whereby the rigid core of the mesogen is formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds.In this paper it is shown that the thermal behaviour of lanthanide salts of 4-hexyloxybenzoic acids depends on the lanthanide ion(Ln=La,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu).The lanthanum(Ⅲ)and praseodymium(Ⅲ)4-hexyloxybenzoates exhibit a smectic A mesophase.No mesophase is found for the corresponding compounds of heavier lanthanides.The thermal properties of the lanthanide(Ⅲ)4-hexyloxybenzoates were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),polarising thermo-optical microscopy and synchrotron X-ray radiation.     

Plane Problem for Layered Composites with Periodic Array of Interfacial Cracks Under Compressive Static Loading

The current paper addresses the problem of 2-D modelling of the onset of failure process in a layered composite with periodic array of interfacial cracks under static compression along layers. The statement of the problem is based on the most accurate approach, the model of piecewise-homogenous medium. The condition of plane strain state is considered. The shear and the extensional buckling modes are examined. The laminae are modelled by transversally isotropic material (a matrix reinforced by continuous parallel fibres). The complex non-classical failure mechanics problem is solved utilizing finite element analysis. It is found that the 0°-plies volume fraction, the crack length and the mutual position of cracks influence the critical strain in the composite.     

Effect of Hydrogen Heat Treatment on the Chemical Composition of Aluminum Nitride Powder

The effect of hydrogen heat treatment on impurity contents in aluminum nitride powder of different fineness is studied. Thermodynamic calculations are provided pointing to the possibility of forming gaseous hydrogen compounds with impurity elements. It is established that as a result of treatment the contents of impurity elements, i.e. oxygen, carbon, sulfur, are reduced by a factor of 3-13. The optimum hydrogen heat treatment regime is determined: a temperature of 1323 K and an exposure time of 30 min.