Determination of electron-diffusion length from photocurrent characteristics of the structure ITO/a-SiC:H(p-type)/a-Si:H/a-Si:H(n-type)/Pd

In this study the electron diffusion length L _n is determined from the relative spectral response of the photocurrent characteristics of the p/i/n sandwich structure ITO/a-SiC:H(p-type)/a-Si:H/a-Si:H(n-type)/Pd. The techniques used for the preparation of the a-Sic:H and a-Si:H amorphous films were glow-discharge and rf magnetron sputtering, respectively. The thickness of the p-type, intrinsic and n-type layer were 400 Å, 7000 Å and 600 Å, respectively. The response of the short-circuit current density J _sc was measured versus the photon energy hv at both constant light intensity and constant temperature. The electron diffusion length was found to be 0.31 m by means of the method of Agarwala and Tewary. Although, in the case of single crystals many diffusion length measurements have been made, there are only few papers for amorphous silicon this films [1]. As it is well-known, the diffusion length of the charge carriers is the most important parameter from the point of view of solar cell applications [2]. In order to obtain a high efficiency in a solar cell all carriers created under illumination in the intrinsic layer should reach the electrodes [3]. In the case that the thickness of the intrinsic layer is much larger than the diffusion length, not all carriers can reach the electrodes and, accordingly, a low efficiency results [4]. On the other hand, carriers which reach the electrodes without thermalizing do not contribute to the photocurrent and finally the efficiency of the solar cell is negatively affected. In order to avoid such an effect to a large extent, the thickness of the amorphous layers in a p/i/n solar cell must be conveniently chosen compared to the diffusion length of the carriers.Here it is aimed to determine the electron diffusion length. In order to achieve this goal, the photocurrent characteristics of an ITO/a-SiC:H(p-type)/a-Si:H/a-Si:H(n-type)/Pd structure was measured versus the photon energy at constant light intensity and constant temperature. In order to determine the electron diffusion length, the method of Agarwala and Tewary [5] was utilized.     

New vic-dioxime transition metal complexes

New vic-dioxime ligands and their Cu^II, Co^III, Ni^II and VO^IV complexes have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r. and u.v. spectra, magnetic moments and molar conductance data. The Co^III complexes are diamagnetic. The ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. and g.c./m.s. spectra of the vic-dioxime ligands and their Co^III complexes were recorded. The compounds are all non-electrolytes.     

Antimicrobial activity studies of mononuclear and binuclear mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes derived from Schiff base ligands and 1,10-phenanthroline

Mixed-ligand complexes of copper(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline and various Schiff bases have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic and i.r. spectra, magnetic moment and molar conductance data. The Schiff base behave as bidentate ligands, and the mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes of the ligands HL1, HL2 and HL4 are binuclear. The conductivity data for all the complexes are consistent with those expected for an electrolyte. Antimicrobial activities of some of the ligands and complexes have been tested against Bacillus megaterium and Candida tropicalis. 1H and 13C n.m.r. spectra have been recorded in order to solve the solution structure of the ligands. Thermal properties of all complexes have been studied by the d.t.a. and t.g.a. techniques.     

Structural and tribological properties of cluster-assembled CNx films

We report the structural and tribological characterization of nanostructured CN_x thin films produced by the deposition of a supersonic carbon cluster beam assisted by nitrogen ion bombardment. The influence of the deposition parameters on the chemical composition and structure of the films has been systematically studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elastic recoil detection analysis, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Depending on the deposition parameters, the films show a structure ranging from amorphous to disordered graphitic with interlinked planes. Nitrogen content depends on the nitrogen ion kinetic energy. The films have a very low density with a high surface roughness. Friction measurements at the nanoscale show a correlation between nitrogen content and mechanical properties of the system. PACS 61.46-w     

Synthesis and complex formation of stereoisomers of 1,3-Diphenyl-2-thioxo-4,5-bis(hydroxyimino)-Imidazoline

The new α-dioxime, 1,3-diphenyl-2-thioxo-4,5-bis-(hydroxyimino)-imidazoline, DTIH₂, has been synthesized. Anti- and amphi-forms of DTIH₂ could be separated. The anti- and amphi-forms of Cu^II, Ni^II, Co^II, and Co^III complexes have been isolated and their structures identified by using IR, UV-Visible and elemental analyses. The interconversion of anti- and amphi-Ni^II complexes has been studied.     

Experimental study of liquid–vapor phase distribution in a single tube capillary evaporator

An experimental setup was developed to study the vaporization of a liquid inducing capillary pumping. The study was performed on a single square cross-section micro-channel of 500 μm internal edge, heated only on the upper and lower walls to allow visualization through the 2 other faces. The images were obtained by a shadowgraph technique using a digital camera. A program for processing the images was developed to allow the determination of several quantities characterizing the flow, supplemented by information provided by the rest of the instrumentation equipping the experimental device. The results highlight the unstable nature of the phase distribution. Despite these instabilities, films of liquid spread in an averaged manner over a length substantially equal to the length of the zone where the heat flux was applied, independently of the intensity of the heat flux.     

Multiphonon hopping of carriers in CuO thin films

We have performed a detailed study of the electrical conduction process in CuO thin films deposited by the sol-gel dip coating technique in a temperature range 280-420 K. The electrical conduction is analyzed within the framework of various hopping conduction models. Multiphonon hopping conduction mechanism is found to dominate the electrical transport in the entire temperature region. Our results are consistent with this model of hopping conduction mechanisms with weak carrier-lattice coupling.     

Cascade energy transfer in a conformationally mobile multichromophoric dendrimer

A conformationally flexible, generation-2,3 poly(aryl ether) dendrimer favors quantitative cascade fluorescence resonance energy transfer without the appearance of undesired chromophore self-quenching interactions such as excimer formation.     

Homo- and heteronuclear complexes of a new,vicinal dioxime ligand

A new symmetrical vicinal dioxime, N,N′-bis-{4-[[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]hydrazinecarbonyl]phenyl}diaminoglyoxime (LH₄), was prepared by reacting anti-dichloroglyoxime with salicylaldehyde 4-aminobenzoylhydrazone. The reaction of ligand with Ni²⁺ salts gave mono-and homopentanuclear complexes, [Ni(LH₃)₂] and [Ni₅(LH)₂X₂]. Furthermore, heteropentanuclear complexes of dioxime ligand, [Cu₄Ni(LH)₂X₄], were prepared by the reaction of [Ni(LH₃)₂)] with Cu²⁺ salt and a monodentate ligand (X = SCN⁻, CN⁻, or N ₃ ⁻ ). The structures of both the new symmetrical vicinal dioxime and its complexes were identified by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, UV-VIS spectra, and magnetic susceptibility. The elemental analyses and spectral data indicate that the hydrazone side of ligand acts as a O,N,O′ tridentate and the fourth position is occupied with monodentate anion such as SCN⁻, CN⁻, N ₃ ⁻ .