Preparation of Al-doped ZnO transparent electrodes suitable for thin-film solar cell applications by various types of magnetron sputtering depositions

In order to determine the influence of different types of magnetron sputtering (MS) depositions on the characteristics of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films appropriate for applications as transparent electrodes in thin-film solar cells, transparent conducting AZO thin films were prepared on glass substrates at 200 °C by direct current (dc) magnetron sputtering (dc-MS), radio frequency (rf)-MS and rf power superimposed dc-MS (rf + dc-MS) depositions using an MS apparatus with the same AZO target. AZO thin films prepared by an rf + dc-MS deposition exhibited both a higher deposition rate than that found with rf-MS depositions and a lower resistivity or higher Hall mobility than those found with dc-MS. The lower dc sputter voltage featured in rf-MS and rf ± dc-MS depositions, producing smoother surface morphology and better crystallinity than obtained with dc-MS depositions. The light scattering characteristics of surface-textured AZO thin films prepared by various types of MS depositions were evaluated by observing the surface texture and measuring the optical transmittance and the diffusive component; wet-chemical etching of the thin film surface was performed in a 0.1% HCl solution. The obtainable haze property in the range from visible to near infrared in AZO films prepared by an rf + dc-MS deposition was markedly better than that obtained with dc-MS depositions.     

Nanostructure, electrical and optical properties of p-type hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon films

In this paper, p-type hydrogenated nanocrystalline (nc-Si:H) films were prepared on corning 7059 glass by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system. The films were deposited with radio frequency (RF) (13.56 MHz) power and direct current (DC) biases stimulation conditions. Borane (B₂H₆) was a doping agent, and the flow ratio η of B₂H₆ component to silane (SiH₄) was varied in the experimental. Films’ surface morphology was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM); Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to study the crystalline volume fraction X_c and crystalline size d in films. The electrical and optical properties were gained by Keithly 617 programmable electrometer and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) transmission spectra, respectively. It was found that: there are on the film surface many faulty grains, which formed spike-like clusters; increasing the flow ratio η, crystalline volume fraction X_c decreased from 40.4% to 32.0% and crystalline size d decreased from 4.7 to 2.7 nm; the optical band gap E_g^opt increased from 2.16 to 2.4 eV. The electrical properties of p-type nc-Si:H films are affected by annealing treatment and the reaction pressure.     

Preparation of CuInS2 microspheres via a facile solution-chemical method

With a mixed solvent of triethylenetetramine-ethylene glycol (1:1, v/v), CuInS₂ microspheres were synthesized by a facile solution-chemical method under the open-air condition. Morphology, structure, phase constituents and optical properties of the as-prepared CuInS₂ powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry. The characterizations showed that the synthesized CuInS₂ powders had single phase, good crystallinity and stoichiometric composition. Moreover, the prepared CuInS₂ powders showed microspheres with the size from 200 to 400 nm, and their energy band gaps were 1.52 eV, which made them promising candidates as absorber materials for photovoltaic applications.     

Lipid adsorption on commercial silica hydrogels from hexane and changes in triglyceride complexes with time

The structures of and lipid complexes with two commercial silica hydrogels (Trisyl and Sorbsil 40), which contain about 60% moisture, were examined by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The spectra suggested that Trisyl contained less moisture than Sorbsil 40. However, the silanol groups of Sorbsil 40 were more active in adsorbing oleic acid, triglyceride, and phosphatidylcholine (PC) from hexane than those of Trisyl. Both adsorbents strongly bound PC through the PC carbonyl and phosphate groups. Lipid adsorption from hexane solution by Trisyl depended solely on trapped moisture, while Sorbsil 40 used moisture and silanol groups on the silica surface. Spectra of triglyceride-silica hydrogel complexes, obtained 24 and 72 h after obtaining the initial spectra, showed that Sorbsil 40 adsorption was by Van der Waals forces, but the triglyceride reoriented over time with an increase in hydrogen bonding. In contrast, Trisyl initially adosorbed triglyceride by hydrogen bonding which was stable for at least 72 h.     

红外光谱多重衰减全反射法定性测定不透明材料上的涂层

本文利用红外光谱多重衰减全反射法测定不透明材料上的内外涂层 ,通过所得的红外光谱图 ,对涂层进行定性分析 ,确定涂层的主要成分。该法对于直接分析各种不透明材料上的表面涂层具有方便实用的价值。     

Economics of small solar-assisted multiple-effect stack distillation plants

The objective of this paper is to compare the economics of using solar energy to operate small, multiple-effect seawater distillation systems in remote areas with the conventional method of using fossil fuels. The particular multiple-effect system used is an advanced horizontal-tube, falling-film system called “multiple-effect stack” (MES) in which the pumping energy requirement is relatively low compared with the horizontal in-line system. Three system configurations were investigated: (1) a conventional system using a steam generator to provide steam for the MES evaporator and a diesel generator to provide pumping power, (2) a solar-assisted system which uses solar thermal collectors to provide hot water (instead of steam) for the evaporator and a diesel generator for pumping power, and (3) a solar stand-alone system which uses solar thermal collectors for the evaporator heat requirement and a solar PV array to provide electrical energy for pumping. At the present time, solar energy cannot compete favorably with fossil energy, particularly under the present international market prices of crude oil. However, in many remote sunny areas of the world where the real cost of fossil energy can be very high, the use of solar energy can be an attractive alternative. Two important cost parameters affect the relative economics of solar energy vis-à-vis conventional (fossil) energy: the collector cost in dollars per square meter and the cost of diesel oil in dollars per giga Joule. Solar energy becomes more competitive as the local cost of procuring conventional fuel increases and as the collector cost decreases. The water cost from a solar thermal-diesel-MES system (configuration #2) can be seen to approach the water cost from a steam generator-diesel-MES system (configuration #1) when the collector cost drops to $200/m² and diesel oil cost at the remote site reaches $50/GJ. Using a 100% solar system (configuration #3) with solar thermal and solar PV collectors, the economics was seen to improve in favor of the solar system. Even when diesel fuel can be procured at $10/GJ at the remote site, the cost of water from the solar system can be seen to approach that from a conventional plant when thermal collectors costing $200/m² are used. The cost of water from the solar system was shown to be always less than that from a conventional system which uses diesel oil procured at the high price of $50/GJ, but always higher than water produced from a conventional system using diesel oil at the low price of $10/GJ.