Search results for " Surfaces and interfaces"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Enhancement of photoconversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells exploiting pulsed laser deposited niobium pentoxide blocking layers
2015
Abstract Among all the photovoltaic technologies developed so far, dye-sensitized solar cells are considered as a promising alternative to the expensive and environmentally unfriendly crystalline silicon-based solar cells. One of the possible strategies employed to increase their photovoltaic efficiency is to reduce the charge recombination at the cell conductive substrate through the use of a compact blocking layer. In this paper, we report on the fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized solar cells employing niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) thin film blocking layer deposited through the pulsed laser deposition technique on conductive substrates. The careful selection of the optimal…
Pull-off adhesion of hybrid glass-steel adhesive joints in salt fog environment
2016
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the durability behaviour of glass/steel adhesive joints exposed to salt fog environmental conditions for ten weeks, according to ASTM B117 standard. To this scope, pull-off mechanical tests were carried out in order to evaluate the performances evolution and damage phenomena of the adhesive joints during the ageing exposition. Two different types of adhesives were compared (i.e. epoxy and polyurethane ones). Moreover, the effects of the glass surface condition and the presence of a basalt mat layer within the adhesive thickness were evaluated. The mechanical performances were related with the occurred failure mechanisms. Epoxy-based joints showed higher…
Preparation and characterisation of Ce:YAG -polycarbonate composites for white LED
2016
Ce:YAG-polycarbonate composites were prepared with several amounts of Ce:YAG in the range 0.1-5 wt.% by using melt compounding. The structure and morphology of the composites were investigated by means of X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The optical properties of the composites were studied by using photoluminescence spectroscopy. The intermolecular interaction between the polymer and the filler surface was investigated using 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy (13C {1H} CP-MAS NMR). The results showed that the dispersion of the particles in the polymer, and the optical properties, depend on the Ce:YAG amount. The composites were combined w…
Recent advances in smart biotechnology: Hydrogels and nanocarriers for tailored bioactive molecules depot
2017
Over the past ten years, the global biopharmaceutical market has remarkably grown, with ten over the top twenty worldwide high performance medical treatment sales being biologics. Thus, biotech R&D (research and development) sector is becoming a key leading branch, with expanding revenues. Biotechnology offers considerable advantages compared to traditional therapeutic approaches, such as reducing side effects, specific treatments, higher patient compliance and therefore more effective treatments leading to lower healthcare costs. Within this sector, smart nanotechnology and colloidal self-assembling systems represent pivotal tools able to modulate the delivery of therapeutics. A comprehens…
Metallic interconnects for SOFC : characterization of their corrosion resistance in hydrogen/water atmosphere and at the operating temperatures of di…
2006
International audience; Chromia forming alloys are one of the best candidates for the interconnecting materials in solid oxide fuels cells (SOFC). Recent research has enabled to decrease the operating temperature of the SOFC from 1000 °C to 800 °C. However, low electronic conductivity and high volatility of the chromia scale need to be solved to improve performance of interconnects. In the field of high temperature oxidation of metals, it is well known that the addition of reactive elements into alloys or in thin film coatings, improve the oxidation resistance of alloys at high temperature. The elements of the beginning of the lanthanide group and yttrium are the most efficient. The goal of…
Deformation-Free Topography from Combined Scanning Force and Tunnelling Experiments
1993
We show that by measuring force and stiffness on a constant-current scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) contour a deformation-free topography can be extracted. With reference to mono- and bicomponent self-assembled monolayers, we find that the characteristic depression pattern and the protrusions on a multicomponent film found in STM are to a great extent due to electronic effects.
The kinetic MC modelling of reversible pattern formation in initial stages of thin metallic film growth on crystalline substrates
2003
Abstract The results of kinetic MC simulations of the reversible pattern formation during the adsorption of mobile metal atoms on crystalline substrates are discussed. Pattern formation, simulated for submonolayer metal coverage, is characterized in terms of the joint correlation functions for a spatial distribution of adsorbed atoms. A wide range of situations, from the almost irreversible to strongly reversible regimes, is simulated. We demonstrate that the patterns obtained are defined by a key dimensionless parameter: the ratio of the mutual attraction energy between atoms to the substrate temperature. Our ab initio calculations for the nearest Ag–Ag adsorbate atom interaction on an MgO…