0000000000471479
AUTHOR
Stella Lo Verso
EVA-montmorillonite nanocomposites: effect of processing condition
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the compounding apparatus and of processing conditions on the properties of an organoclay-poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) nanocomposite. The filled materials were prepared using either a discontinuous batch mixer, a single screw extruder, a counter rotating intermeshing twin-screw compounder or a corotating intermeshing twin-screw extruder. The characterization of the obtained nanocomposites was performed by XRD, thermogravimetry, mechanical and rheological measurements. The study has shown the possibility of producing nanocomposites based on EVA and a commercial organoclay (Cloisite 15A) by several mixing equipments. In fact all the…
Role of the Back Metal-Semiconductor Contact on the Performances of a-Si:H Solar Cells
We have investigated the role of the metal-semiconductor back contact on the performances of thin film modules consisting of single junction a-Si:H photovoltaic (PV) cells deposited with p-i-n configuration. We find that an adequate choice of the back contact helps reducing the barrier height of the junction improving the contact conductivity. For this purpose Mo has shown to be effective. Moreover we find that Mo, as refractory material, has additional beneficial effects reducing the formation of defects leading to the decrease of recombination losses. We have then fabricated a PV module on flexible substrate for indoor energy harvesting applications using Mo as back contact. An efficiency…