Search results for " Thin film"

Optical characterization of Mg-doped GaN films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor phase deposition

2000

Scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements are reported for Mg-doped GaN films grown on (0001) sapphire substrates by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor phase deposition. The surface morphology, structural, and optical properties of GaN samples with Mg concentrations ranging from 1019 to 1021 cm−3 have been studied. In the scanning micrographs large triangular pyramids are observed, probably due to stacking fault formation and three-dimensional growth. The density and size of these structures increase with the amount of magnesium incorporated in the samples. In the photoluminescence spectra, intense lines were found at 3.36 and 3.31 eV on the tr…

Modulation of the electronic properties of GaN films by surface acoustic waves

2003

We report on the interaction between photogenerated electron-hole pairs and surface acoustic waves (SAW) in GaN films grown on sapphire substrates. The spatial separation of photogenerated carriers by the piezoelectric field of the SAW is evidenced by the quenching of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity. The quenching levels in GaN are significantly smaller than those measured in GaAs under similar conditions. The latter is attributed to the lower exciton ionization efficiency and carrier separation probabilities mediated by the piezoelectric effect. The PL spectra also evidence energy shifts and broadenings of the electronic transitions, which are attributed to the band gap modulation by …

Photocatalysis of rhodamine B and methyl orange degradation under solar light on ZnO and Cu2O thin films

2020

We report the photocatalytic properties of ZnO and Cu2O thin films deposited on glass substrates at room temperature by DC sputtering and pulsed laser deposition. The photoactivity of the films was investigated through the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) under solar light. In order to select the most suitable film of ZnO for the of RhB and MO degradation, the relationship between the characteristics (e.g. energy levels and defects concentration) of ZnO films and their effectiveness in the photocatalytic yield of RhB and MO been studied, where several films were deposited by using different oxygen partial pressures (PO2: 0.05–1.3 mbar), while Cu2O films were grown und…

Si:O Alloys for Photovoltaics: Optical and Electrical Properties from Quantum Dots to Thin Films

2010

In current Si based PV devices the sun-light-electricity conversion rarely exceeds the 20% in efficiency, stimulating significant efforts towards new solutions and technologies for giving a boost to Si for PV. One of the most promising routes for the 21st century is exploiting the quantum confinement effect in reduced dimensionality systems, with the aim to harvest the full solar spectrum. Recently, it has been proposed that a certain modulation of the optical bandgap (EG OPT) can be attained by changing the size of Si quantum dots (QDs), which should allow for a large absorption of the solar photon flux [1]. By this way, an “all-Si” tandem solar cell could be fabricated, by stacking solar …

Physico-chemical Properties of Anodic Oxide Films: from Passivity to Electronics

2014

Light trapping by plasmonic nanoparticles

2020

Abstract Metallic nanoparticles sustaining localized surface plasmon resonances are of great interest for enhancing light trapping in thin film photovoltaics. In this chapter, we explore the correlation between the structural and optical properties of self-assembled silver nanostructures fabricated by a solid-state dewetting process on various substrates relevant for silicon photovoltaics and later integrated into plasmonic back reflectors. Our study allows us to optimize the performance of nanostructures by identifying the fabrication conditions in which desirable circular and uniformly spaced nanoparticles are obtained. Second, we introduce a novel optoelectronic spectroscopic method that…

Oblique surface waves at an interface between a metal–dielectric superlattice and an isotropic dielectric

2012

We investigate the existence and dispersion characteristics of surface waves that propagate at an interface between a metal–dielectric superlattice and an isotropic dielectric. Within the long-wavelength limit, when the effective-medium (EM) approximation is valid, the superlattice behaves like a uniaxial plasmonic crystal with the main optical axes perpendicular to the metal–dielectric interfaces. We demonstrate that if such a semi-infinite plasmonic crystal is cut normally to the layer interfaces and brought into contact with a semi-infinite dielectric, a new type of surface mode can appear. Such modes can propagate obliquely to the optical axes if favorable conditions regarding the thick…

Aided phytostabilization using Miscanthus sinensis×giganteus on heavy metal-contaminated soils

2013

Abstract A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the use of red mud, a by-product of the alumina industry, as a soil amendment on highly contaminated soils in the vicinity of a former Pb–Zn smelter in Copșa Mica (Romania). Changes in the distribution of Zn, Cd and Pb in various soil fractions, mobility of heavy metals in the soil, and their uptake and effects on growth and productivity of Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus were evaluated. Uptake of Zn, Cd and Pb was determined in different tissues of M. sinensis × giganteus cultivated in field plots situated at increasing distance from the pollution source and with different levels of contamination and metal availabilities. Soluble meta…

Advances in Anodic Alumina Membranes-based fuel cell: CsH2PO4 pore-filler as proton conductor at room temperature

2009

Abstract Anodic alumina membranes (AAM) filled with cesium hydrogen phosphate proton conductor have been tested as inorganic composite electrolyte for hydrogen–oxygen thin film (≤50 μm) fuel cell (TFFC) working at low temperatures (25 °C), low humidity ( T gas  = 25 °C) and low Pt loading (1 mg cm −2 ). Single module TFFC delivering a peak power of around 15–27 mW cm −2 , with open circuit voltage (OCV) of about 0.9 V and short circuit current density in the range 80–160 mA cm −2 have been fabricated. At variance with pure solid acid electrolytes showing reproducibility problems due to the scarce mechanical resistance, the presence of porous alumina support allowed to replicate similar fuel…

Current-induced domain wall motion in nanoscale ferromagnetic elements

2011

The manipulation of a magnetic domain wall (DW) by a spin polarized current in ferromagnetic nanowires has attracted tremendous interest during the last years due to fundamental questions in the fields of spin dependent transport phenomena and magnetization dynamics but also due to promising applications, such as DW based magnetic memory concepts and logic devices. We comprehensively review recent developments in the field of geometrically confined domain walls and in particular current induced DW dynamics. We focus on the influence of the magnetic and electronic transport properties of the materials on the spin transfer effect in DWs. After considering the different DW structures in ferrom…