Increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of silicon solar cells by improving their junction properties or minimizing light reflection losses remains a major challenge. Extensive studies were carried out in order to develop an effective antireflection coating for monocrystalline solar cells. Here we report on the preparation of a nanostructured cerium oxide thin film by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) as an antireflection coating for silicon solar cell. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of a cerium oxide nanostructure film are investigated as a function of the number of laser pulses. The X-ray diffraction results reveal that the deposited cerium oxide films are crystalline in nature and have a cubic fluorite. The field emission scanning electron microscope investigations show an increase in the film grain size with increasing the number of laser pulses. The carrier concentration of the film decreases and the mobility increases as the number of laser pulses increases. The cerium oxide film deposited on silicon at 900 laser pulses exhibits a minimum optical reflection. The maximum PCE was 19.27% and fill factor of 87% was obtained after the deposition of silicon solar cell with cerium oxide nanostructured film deposited at 1000 laser pulses.
In this work, silicon nitride (Si3N4) thin films were deposited on metallic substrates (aluminium and titanium sheets) by the DC reactive sputtering technique using two different silicon targets (n-type and p-type Si wafers) as well as two Ar:N2 gas mixing ratios (50:50 and 70:30). The electrical conductivity of the metallic (aluminium and titanium) substrates was measured before and after the deposition of silicon nitride thin films on both surfaces of the substrates. The results obtained from this work showed that the deposited films, in general, reduced the electrical conductivity of the substrates, and the thin films prepared from n-type silicon targets using a 50:50 mixing ratio and deposited on both
... Show MorePsi prepared by Electrochemical etching technique at invariable etching current density of 10 mA/cm2 and at different times (7 and 17) min. The porous Si structure was studied using XRD, (FE-SEM) and EDS. The process of sensing NH3 gas is carried out at different operating temperatures (R.t,80,130 and 200)°C and the gas concentration is constant. It is measured by changing the resistance of the sensor as a function of exposure time to the gas. The result showed the XRD patterns of the PS at (7 and 17) min etching time. the peak samples at (111) around 2θ = 28.5°. It is observed that the peak intensity declines with rising the etching time,
novel spectrofluorimetric flow injection analysis (FIA) method was developed for the selective quantification of ascorbic acid via fluorescence quenching of serotonin hydrochloride. The system employs a custom-designed photometric array comprising 16 irradiation sources arranged in a dual-axis matrix—eight aligned horizontally and eight orthogonally, enabling multi-angle excitation and enhanced spectral resolution. Fluorescence signals were captured using a twin-pair solar cell detector, offering high sensitivity and minimal optical interference. The method exhibited a linear calibration range of 0.1–30 limit of detection (LOD) of 0.025 μ μ g/mL with a correlation coefficient (r mol /L, equivalent to 4.403 * 10 4 μ 2 ) of 0.9966, a g
... Show MoreA cost-effective and efficient detector was created to conduct thorough turbidimetric measurements by reaction of Co (II) ion with calcium ferro cyanide to form bright green particulate, using the method of continuous flow injection analysis, the use of NAG-5SX1-1D-SSP Analyzer in determining cobalt (II) ion in a test for the validity of the new design. The NAG-5SX1-1D-SSP Analyzer is composed of five irradiation sources of white snow leds having the diameter of 10 mm with one solar cell of 55 mm length, 13.5 mm width. Using a selector switch to select the optimum voltage to be used which was 2.7 VDC. Under conditions of optimization, cobalt (II) ion was determined at 0.005–20 mmol. L–1(n = 23) while linearity dynamic range 0.005–7 mm
... Show MoreRare-earth metal oxides (REMOs) exhibit distinctive properties, among which cerium oxide (CeO2) displays numerous industrial, technological, and medical applications. However, the inclusion of hafnium (Hf) at the cerium (Ce) site to form the (Ce1-ₓHfₓO2) lattice system at a concentration of x = 0.25 would have an impact on enhancing the physical properties of the simulated configuration. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to perform the calculations, supported by the Hubbard correction factor (U). The generalized gradient approximation (GGA-PBE) was employed to analyze the electronic, structural, optical, and mechanical properties at hydrostatic pressures (P = 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 GPa). The ground state geometry of the pristine
... Show MoreIn this work gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were prepared. Chemical method (Seed-Growth) was used to prepare it, then doping AuNPs with porous silicon (PS), used silicon wafer p-type to produce (PS) the processes doping achieved by electrochemical etching, the solution etching consist of HF, ethanol and AuNPs suspension, the result UV-visible absorption for AuNPs suspension showed the single peak located at ~(530 – 521) nm that related to SPR, the single peak is confirmed that the NPs present in the suspension is spherical shape and non-aggregated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated growth AuNPs with PS. compare the PS layer without AuNPs and with AuNPs doped for electrical properties and sensitivity properties we found AuNPs:PS is more
... Show MoreAccurate description of thermodynamic, structural, and electronic properties for bulk and surfaces of ceria (CeO2) necessitates the inclusion of the Hubbard parameter (U) in the density functional theory (DFT) calculations to precisely account for the strongly correlated 4f electrons. Such treatment is a daunting task when attempting to draw a potential energy surface for CeO2-catalyzed reaction. This is due to the inconsistent change in thermo-kinetics parameters of the reaction in reference to the variation in the U values. As an illustrative example, we investigate herein the discrepancy in activation and reaction energies for steps underlying the partial and full hydrogenation of acetylene over the CeO2(111) surface. Overall, we find th
... Show MorePulsed-laser deposition (PLD) technique was used to prepare thin films from cerium oxide (CeO2) doped with erbium and indium oxides. In order to characterize the morphology and sensing features, these films were deposited on glass and/or single silicon substrates, respectively, with erbium and indium oxides. The morphological investigation conducted using atomic force microscope has shown an increase in the non-regularity of particle diameter with increasing doping ratios of both oxides. The maximum particle diameter of 61.45nm was obtained for 9% Eu2O3-doped CeO2. The surface roughness value of Eu2O3-doped ceria was higher than those of In2O3-doped ceria. The gas sensing measurements were done at
... Show MoreThe low-pressure sprinklers have been widely used to replace the high-pressure impact sprinklers in the lateral move sprinkler irrigation system due to its low operating cost and high efficiency. However, runoff losses under the low-pressure sprinkler irrigation machine can be significant. This study aims to evaluate the performance of the variable pulsed irrigation algorithm (VPIA) in reducing the runoff losses under low-pressure lateral move sprinkler irrigation machine for three different soil types. The VPIA uses the ON-OFF pulsing technique to reduce the runoff losses by controlling the number and width of the pulses considering the soil and the irrigation machine properties. Als