What is the relevance of Si wafers in ferroelectric film deposition?5 answersSi wafers play a crucial role in ferroelectric film deposition due to their compatibility with CMOS technology. The use of Si substrates allows for the direct growth of ultrathin ferroelectric films, such as Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12, exhibiting excellent electrical properties like low leakage current and good fatigue characteristics. Additionally, Si substrates enable the fabrication of metal-ferroelectric-silicon structures through direct wafer bonding, preventing the formation of low permittivity layers and improving interface trap density. Furthermore, Si-doping in ZrO2 thin films on Si substrates has been shown to modulate ferroelectric properties, affecting the phase stability and electrical behavior of the films. Overall, Si wafers serve as a versatile platform for the deposition and integration of ferroelectric films, enabling advancements in non-volatile memory devices and high-energy density capacitors.
What the methods for fabrication of carbon electrodes using silicon wafers?5 answersThe fabrication methods for carbon electrodes using silicon wafers involve several key steps. Initially, a mixture containing a precursor, silicon particles, and carbon fibers is provided on a current collector, followed by pyrolysis to convert the precursor into carbon phases, forming a composite material adhered to the current collector. Another approach includes forming a composite material film by providing a mixture with a precursor and silane-treated silicon particles, then pyrolyzing the mixture to create the composite material film with distributed silicon particles. Additionally, a method entails coating a current collector with a slurry containing silicon particles, polymeric binders, and carbon fibers, followed by pyrolysis at specific temperatures to produce an electrode with a silicon-based host material layer. These methods collectively contribute to the efficient fabrication of carbon electrodes using silicon-based materials.
Amorphous silica from Palm kernel shell ash5 answersAmorphous silica can be extracted from palm kernel shell ash (PKSA). PKSA contains a high percentage of SiO2, making it a potential source of silica. The extraction process involves calcination at different temperatures, resulting in the formation of amorphous silica. The synthesized silica gel from PKSA has been characterized using XRF, XRD, TGA, SEM, and FTIR. The characterization results show that the silica in PKSA is inherently amorphous. The extracted silica from PKSA has been found to have a high silica concentration, comparable to commercial silica. It can be used as a support for catalysts, in the development of zeolite-based catalysts, and as an adsorbent. Further analysis is needed to minimize impurities in PKSA silica gel and increase its effectiveness as a moisture absorber for bottle packaging medicine. The extraction process of silica from palm oil fly ash (POFA) has also been studied, resulting in the deposition of amorphous silica with a high silica content.
Amorphous silicon (a-Si),5 answersAmorphous silicon (a-Si) is a material that has been studied in various contexts. It has been used in photovoltaic (PV) technologies to analyze the performance of PV modules under different climate conditions. It has also been integrated into greenhouse structures as semi-transparent PV glass, which has been found to have a negligible influence on horticultural crop growth. In the field of radiotherapy, a-Si electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) have been used as dosimeters and have shown similar and proportional increases in signals with increasing dose. Additionally, a-Si has been studied in terms of its crystallization properties, with aluminum-induced crystallization techniques showing successful crystallization of a-Si layers. Finally, a-Si has been used in silicon heterojunction solar cells to passivate the crystal silicon surface and improve the efficiency of the cells.
Amorphous silicon Thin film (a-Si) solar cell4 answersAmorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film solar cells have been the focus of research for improving efficiency and reducing costs in photovoltaic applications. Various studies have explored the deposition of a-Si on different substrates using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) techniques. The use of doped hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) films has shown promise in improving carrier transport and field-effect passivation in a-Si heterojunction solar cells. Additionally, the integration of titanium ring-shaped metasurfaces has been proposed to enhance light absorption in a-Si solar cells, resulting in ultra-broadband absorption across the solar spectrum. Low-temperature processing techniques have also been investigated to enable the fabrication of a-Si solar cells on flexible polymer/plastic substrates, with excellent power conversion efficiency achieved at 100 °C. Furthermore, computer simulation models have been developed to optimize the production system design and improve the performance of a-Si thin-film manufacturing.
How is silica used in the manufacturing of glass?5 answersSilica is used in the manufacturing of glass in various ways. One method is through the use of microscale computed axial lithography (micro-CAL) of fused silica components, where a photopolymer-silica nanocomposite is tomographically illuminated and then sintered to create three-dimensional microfluidics and micro-optical elements. Another method involves the initial processing steps of preparing a melt batch containing silica and other components, melting the batch, and cooling it to produce amorphous silica materials such as glass. Additive manufacturing techniques, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) and fused feedstock deposition (FFD), can also be used to create transparent fused silica glass by converting thermoplastic silica nanocomposites to glass through debinding and sintering, enabling the printing of complex glass structures. Additionally, a direct method using lasers to process fused silica paste has been developed to create three-dimensional fused silica glass with high transparency.