Im Konstruktiven Glasbau ist es keine Besonderheit mehr, Glasträger für Dachkonstruktionen und Glasschwerter in Fassaden einzusetzen, um leichte, transparente und in den Hintergrund tretende Tragkonstruktionen umzusetzen. Für die Fügung dieser tragenden Bauteile werden bisher Verbindungsmittel aus Edelstahl eingesetzt, die optisch beeinträchtigen, Bohrungen im Glas erfordern und ungünstige Spannungsspitzen im Glas hervorrufen. Demgegenüber ist das Kleben für den spröden Werkstoff Glas ein materialgerechteres Fügeverfahren. Die Untersuchung einer flächigen Klebverbindung zum Lastabtrag zwischen tragenden Glas-Bauteilen im Primärtragwerk ist Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit. Bei einer relativ großen Schichtdicke bildet die transparente Ausführung eine ganz wesentliche Prämisse. Ein weiterer Anspruch liegt in der Alterungsbeständigkeit und der Tragfähigkeit. An einer Auswahl von 14 potentiell geeigneten, transparenten Acrylat-, Epoxidharz- und Polyurethanklebstoffen werden mit Hilfe thermomechanischer und mechanischer Prüfverfahren temperaturabhängige Materialeigenschaften ermittelt. Ergänzend wird die Langzeitbeständigkeit der Klebstoffe durch eine künstliche Alterung im Verbund überprüft. Im Anschluss erfolgt die Ermittlung der lichttechnischen Eigenschaften sowie die visuelle Beurteilung der Sichtproben. Im Resultat wird ein UV- und lichthärtender Acrylatklebstoff als besonders geeignet identifiziert. Für diesen Klebstoff werden Haftfestigkeitsuntersuchungen im Druckscherversuch unter Temperatur- und Alterungseinflüssen sowie Zeitstandversuche an Substanzproben und kleinen Prüfkörpern durchgeführt. Für den Einsatz in einer flächigen Klebung wird ein geeignetes Dosier- und Aushärteverfahren entwickelt. Der Tragfähigkeitsnachweis der geklebten Verbindung erfolgt an großformatigen Bauteilmustern. Bei diesen Versuchen wird jeweils die Belastbarkeitsgrenze des Glases erreicht, während die Klebung intakt bleibt. Ein Zeitstandversuch dient zur Aufzeichnung des Kriechverhaltens an Bauteilmustern bei erhöhter Temperatur. Begleitend zum Entstehen der vorliegenden Arbeit werden mehrere Bauvorhaben mit Ganzglaskonstruktionen umgesetzt. Der Verzicht auf jegliche metallische Verbindungsmittel stellt bei diesen Objekten in Deutschland ein bauaufsichtliches und bautechnisches Novum dar. Die Fügung von Glasstütze und Glasträger innerhalb des gläsernen Primärtragwerks erfolgt ausschließlich und erstmals über eine transparente Acrylatklebung, deren Ausführung auf Erkenntnissen der vorliegenden Arbeit basiert. Die umschließende Verglasung wird mit einem zugelassenen Silikonklebstoff an der Tragkonstruktion befestigt. Zwei der beschriebenen Bauvorhaben werden seit der Erstellung in einem umfangreichen Monitoring beobachtet, um weitergehende Aussagen zum Langzeitverhalten der Klebungen zu erhalten. Die weitgehenden Untersuchungen der vorliegenden Arbeit wie auch des laufenden Monitorings sollen Bedeutung und Zuverlässigkeit der transparenten, lastabtragenden Klebungen im Konstruktiven Glasbau belegen helfen. / The use of glass beams in transparent roofs and glass fins as part of the facade is already state-of-the-art construction to achieve a transparent and lightweight appearance. Until now, mechanical fasteners made from stainless steel are used to join these structural components. Those fasteners visually interfere, require holes in the glass and cause unfavorable stress peaks in the glass. In contrast, adhesive bonding is much more appropriate to join the brittle material glass. The subject of this dissertation is the study of a planar adhesive joint which transfers the load between the load-bearing glass components into the primary structure. With a relatively large layer thickness, the manufacturing of the transparent joint represents a major challenge. Furthermore, the aging resistance and the load-bearing capacity must be proven. A selection of 14 potentially suitable, transparent adhesives of acrylate, epoxy resin and polyurethane are tested for temperature-depending material properties. These tests are based on thermo-mechanical and mechanical test methods. In addition, the long-term durability of the adhesives is verified by artificial aging test on bonded specimens. Subsequently, the photometric characteristics and the visual quality of the samples are assessed. As the result an UV- and light-curing acrylate adhesive is identified as particularly suitable. Compression shear tests under temperature and aging influences as well as creep tests are performed on substance samples and small-scale specimens to determine the adhesive strength of this adhesive. A suitable application and curing process is developed for use in planar bonded joints. Tests on specimen components were carried out to determine the load-bearing capacity of the bonded glass frame corners. In these experiments, the glass fails while the adhesive joint remains intact. Creep test are used to record the creep deformation of component specimen at increased temperature. Accompanying the study, several building projects are realized to use adhesive bonding technology in all-glass constructions. Without any visible forms of connection, the glass construction represents a significant innovation in Germany in terms of both building legislation and building technology. It´s the first time, glass fins and glass beams are joint to a glass primary structural system via transparent acrylate adhesive. The connection method is based on the findings of the present study. The glass panels of the envelope are joined to the primary glass structure with an approved silicone adhesive. Two of the described construction projects are monitored to obtain further knowledge about the long-term behaviour of the bonded joints. The comprehensive studies of this thesis as well as the ongoing monitoring have proven the significance and the reliability of transparent, load-bearing bonded joints in the field of glass construction.

Les travaux menés durant cette thèse s’inscrivent dans le cadre du développement de la mission spatiale Solar Probe Plus (NASA). Cette sonde d’exploration, dont la vocation est l’étude du Soleil, pénétrera la couronne solaire pour y faire des mesures in-situ. Ce travail de thèse a consisté à mener l’étude expérimentale des matériaux constitutifs de la sonde: métaux réfractaires (W, Re, Ta, Mo, Nb, Ti), composite C/C, un revêtement de nitrure de bore pyrolytique (pBN) ainsi que des dépôts métalliques texturés à forte émissivité. L’environnement à l’approche du soleil fut reproduit expérimentalement au sol au laboratoire PROMES-CNRS en associant le four solaire d’1 MW à Odeillo au moyen d’essai MEDIASE (Moyen d’Essai et de Diagnostic en Ambiance Spatiale Extrême). Grâce à ces moyens expérimentaux, ces matériaux candidats ont pu être testés sous formes d’échantillons, à très haute température (1100-2500 K), sous vide (10-4 Pa), ainsi que sous bombardement de protons (1-4 keV, jusqu'à 1018 ions m-2 s-1, pour la simulation du vent solaire). La propriété matériau sur laquelle cette étude expérimentale s’est concentrée est l’émissivité, dans la mesure où celle-ci va conditionner la température des surfaces de la sonde faisant face au Soleil. Celle-ci a été mesurée in-situ dans MEDIASE pendant les différents traitements. Dans le cadre de l’étude des métaux réfractaires, il a s’agit de comprendre la relation entre état de surface et émissivité, ainsi que d’étudier les modifications induites par les traitements. En ce qui concerne les dépôts métalliques texturés ainsi que le dépôt de pBN, leur étude a consisté à évaluer leurs performances radiatives et leurs comportements à haute température. / Solar Probe Plus (NASA) will be a historic mission of space exploration as it will consist in the first spacecraft to enter the solar corona. The spacecraft will face harsh environmental conditions that no other spacecraft has ever encountered in the past. One of the most critical technology developments for this mission is thus material science related: the materials constituting all the surfaces directly facing the Sun must be studied and tested in a relevant environment. The study of the candidate materials has been carried out at PROMES-CNRS: refractory metals for the instruments (W, Re, Ta, Mo, Nb, Ti, and their alloys), and refractory ceramics for the thermal protection shield (C/C composite and pyrolytic boron nitride - pBN). Samples of these materials were tested experimentally in a simulated near-Sun environment. This environment was simulated on ground thanks to the association of the 1 MW solar furnace in Odeillo, to the MEDIASE facility. This way materials were tested at very high temperature (1100-2500 K) in high vacuum (10-4 Pa), with the solar wind being reproduced via a proton bombardment (1-4 keV, up to 1018 ions m-2 s-1). The material properties that we have studied the most are the thermal radiative properties as they fully determine the temperature of a free-standing surface exposed to an intense radiative flux in vacuum. For refractory metals, it mainly consisted in studying the relationship between surface state and radiative properties, as well as the effect of the treatments. As for the textured metallic coatings and pBN, it consisted mainly in determining their efficiencies and understanding their behaviors.

Im Konstruktiven Glasbau ist es keine Besonderheit mehr, Glasträger für Dachkonstruktionen und Glasschwerter in Fassaden einzusetzen, um leichte, transparente und in den Hintergrund tretende Tragkonstruktionen umzusetzen. Für die Fügung dieser tragenden Bauteile werden bisher Verbindungsmittel aus Edelstahl eingesetzt, die optisch beeinträchtigen, Bohrungen im Glas erfordern und ungünstige Spannungsspitzen im Glas hervorrufen. Demgegenüber ist das Kleben für den spröden Werkstoff Glas ein materialgerechteres Fügeverfahren. Die Untersuchung einer flächigen Klebverbindung zum Lastabtrag zwischen tragenden Glas-Bauteilen im Primärtragwerk ist Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit. Bei einer relativ großen Schichtdicke bildet die transparente Ausführung eine ganz wesentliche Prämisse. Ein weiterer Anspruch liegt in der Alterungsbeständigkeit und der Tragfähigkeit. An einer Auswahl von 14 potentiell geeigneten, transparenten Acrylat-, Epoxidharz- und Polyurethanklebstoffen werden mit Hilfe thermomechanischer und mechanischer Prüfverfahren temperaturabhängige Materialeigenschaften ermittelt. Ergänzend wird die Langzeitbeständigkeit der Klebstoffe durch eine künstliche Alterung im Verbund überprüft. Im Anschluss erfolgt die Ermittlung der lichttechnischen Eigenschaften sowie die visuelle Beurteilung der Sichtproben. Im Resultat wird ein UV- und lichthärtender Acrylatklebstoff als besonders geeignet identifiziert. Für diesen Klebstoff werden Haftfestigkeitsuntersuchungen im Druckscherversuch unter Temperatur- und Alterungseinflüssen sowie Zeitstandversuche an Substanzproben und kleinen Prüfkörpern durchgeführt. Für den Einsatz in einer flächigen Klebung wird ein geeignetes Dosier- und Aushärteverfahren entwickelt. Der Tragfähigkeitsnachweis der geklebten Verbindung erfolgt an großformatigen Bauteilmustern. Bei diesen Versuchen wird jeweils die Belastbarkeitsgrenze des Glases erreicht, während die Klebung intakt bleibt. Ein Zeitstandversuch dient zur Aufzeichnung des Kriechverhaltens an Bauteilmustern bei erhöhter Temperatur. Begleitend zum Entstehen der vorliegenden Arbeit werden mehrere Bauvorhaben mit Ganzglaskonstruktionen umgesetzt. Der Verzicht auf jegliche metallische Verbindungsmittel stellt bei diesen Objekten in Deutschland ein bauaufsichtliches und bautechnisches Novum dar. Die Fügung von Glasstütze und Glasträger innerhalb des gläsernen Primärtragwerks erfolgt ausschließlich und erstmals über eine transparente Acrylatklebung, deren Ausführung auf Erkenntnissen der vorliegenden Arbeit basiert. Die umschließende Verglasung wird mit einem zugelassenen Silikonklebstoff an der Tragkonstruktion befestigt. Zwei der beschriebenen Bauvorhaben werden seit der Erstellung in einem umfangreichen Monitoring beobachtet, um weitergehende Aussagen zum Langzeitverhalten der Klebungen zu erhalten. Die weitgehenden Untersuchungen der vorliegenden Arbeit wie auch des laufenden Monitorings sollen Bedeutung und Zuverlässigkeit der transparenten, lastabtragenden Klebungen im Konstruktiven Glasbau belegen helfen. / The use of glass beams in transparent roofs and glass fins as part of the facade is already state-of-the-art construction to achieve a transparent and lightweight appearance. Until now, mechanical fasteners made from stainless steel are used to join these structural components. Those fasteners visually interfere, require holes in the glass and cause unfavorable stress peaks in the glass. In contrast, adhesive bonding is much more appropriate to join the brittle material glass. The subject of this dissertation is the study of a planar adhesive joint which transfers the load between the load-bearing glass components into the primary structure. With a relatively large layer thickness, the manufacturing of the transparent joint represents a major challenge. Furthermore, the aging resistance and the load-bearing capacity must be proven. A selection of 14 potentially suitable, transparent adhesives of acrylate, epoxy resin and polyurethane are tested for temperature-depending material properties. These tests are based on thermo-mechanical and mechanical test methods. In addition, the long-term durability of the adhesives is verified by artificial aging test on bonded specimens. Subsequently, the photometric characteristics and the visual quality of the samples are assessed. As the result an UV- and light-curing acrylate adhesive is identified as particularly suitable. Compression shear tests under temperature and aging influences as well as creep tests are performed on substance samples and small-scale specimens to determine the adhesive strength of this adhesive. A suitable application and curing process is developed for use in planar bonded joints. Tests on specimen components were carried out to determine the load-bearing capacity of the bonded glass frame corners. In these experiments, the glass fails while the adhesive joint remains intact. Creep test are used to record the creep deformation of component specimen at increased temperature. Accompanying the study, several building projects are realized to use adhesive bonding technology in all-glass constructions. Without any visible forms of connection, the glass construction represents a significant innovation in Germany in terms of both building legislation and building technology. It´s the first time, glass fins and glass beams are joint to a glass primary structural system via transparent acrylate adhesive. The connection method is based on the findings of the present study. The glass panels of the envelope are joined to the primary glass structure with an approved silicone adhesive. Two of the described construction projects are monitored to obtain further knowledge about the long-term behaviour of the bonded joints. The comprehensive studies of this thesis as well as the ongoing monitoring have proven the significance and the reliability of transparent, load-bearing bonded joints in the field of glass construction.

Die vorliegende Dissertation befasst sich mit dem RF- überlagerten DC-Sputtern von Indiumzinnoxid und aluminiumdotierten Zinkoxid. Bei dem dafür entwickelten synchron gepulsten RF/DC-Verfahren werden die zu untersuchenden Materialien gleichzeitig mit Hilfe eines RF- und eines PulsDC-Generators gesputtert. Ein wesentliches Resultat der Untersuchungen ist, dass durch RF- überlagertes DCSputtern Schichten abgeschieden werden können, die im Vergleich zum DC- bzw. PulsDC-Sputtern geringere spezifische Widerstände aufweisen. Dies ist auf eine Verringerung von Defekten in den abgeschiedenen Schichten zurückzuführen. Es konnte anhand der Untersuchungen gezeigt werden, dass fur die Abscheidung von Indiumzinnoxid und aluminiumdotiertem Zinkoxid die Substrattemperatur beim RF überlagerten DC-Sputtern gegenüber dem DC-Sputtern um bis zu 100°C verringert werden kann.

Solar absorber coatings are one of the key components in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. Currently operating at temperatures up to 565°C and suffering from emissive losses, their energy conversion efficiency could be improved by applying high-temperature stable materials with solar selective properties, i.e. high absorptivity and low emissivity. In this work, the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) SnO2:Ta is developed as a solar selective coating (SSC) for CSP absorbers. Starting with simulations covering basic requirements for SSCs, the deposition process of SnO2:Ta is optimized and extensive optical characterization and modelling are performed. It is shown that upon covering with a SiO2 antireflective layer, a calculated absorptivity of 95% and an emissivity of 30% are achieved for the model configuration of SnO2:Ta on top of a perfect black body (BB). High-temperature stability of the developed TCO up to 800 °C is shown in situ by spectroscopic ellipsometry and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The universality of the concept is then demonstrated by transforming silicon and glassy carbon from non-selective into solar selective absorbers by depositing the TCO on top of them. Finally, the energy conversion efficiencies ηCSP of SnO2:Ta on top of a BB and an ideal non-selective BB absorber are compared as a function of solar concentration factor C and absorber temperature TH.

The aim of this work was to investigate silver nanowire as well as carbon nanotube networks as transparent conducting electrodes for small molecule organic solar cells. In the framework of the nanowire investigations, a low-temperature method at less than 80 °C is developed to obtain highly conductive networks directly after the deposition and without post-processing. In detail, specific non-conductive organic materials act as a matrix where the nanowires are embedded in such that a mutual attraction based on capillary forces and hydrophobic interaction is created. This process is mediated by the ethanol contained in the nanowire dispersion and works only for sublayer materials which exhibit hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups at the same time. In contrast to high-temperature processed reference electrodes (210 °C for 90 min) without matrix, a slightly lower sheet resistance of 10.8 Ohm/sq at a transparency of 80.4 % (including substrate) is obtained by using polyvinylpyrrolidone as the sublayer material. In comparison to annealed silver nanowire networks, the novel approach yields a performance enhancement in corresponding organic solar cells which can compete with ITO-based devices. Furthermore, a novel approach for scalable, highly conductive, and transparent silver nanowire top-electrodes for organic optoelectronic devices is introduced. By utilizing a perfluorinated methacrylate as stabilizer, silver nanowires with high aspect ratio can be transferred into inert solvents which do not dissolve most organic compounds making this modified dispersion compatible with small molecule and polymer-based organic optoelectronic devices. The inert silver nanowire dispersion yields highly performing top-electrodes with a sheet resistance of 10.0 Ohm/sq at 80.0 % transparency (including substrate) directly after low-temperature deposition at 30 °C and without further post-processing. In comparison to similarly prepared reference devices comprising a thin-metal film as transparent top-electrode, reasonable power conversion efficiencies are demonstrated by spray-coating this dispersion directly on simple, air-exposed small molecule-based organic solar cells. Moreover, a deeper understanding of the percolation behavior of silver nanowire networks has been achieved. Herein, direct measurements of the basic network parameters, including the wire-to-wire junction resistance and the resistance of a single nanowire of pristine and annealed networks have been carried out for the first time. By putting the values into a simulation routine, a good accordance between measurement and simulation is achieved. Thus, an examination of the electrical limit of the nanowire system used in this work can be realized by extrapolating the junction resistance down to zero. The annealed silver nanowires are fairly close to the limit with a theoretical enhancement range of only 20 % (common absolute sheet resistance of approximately 10 Ohm/sq) such that a significant performance improvement is only expected by an enlargement of the nanowire length or by the implementation of new network geometries. In addition, carbon nanotube networks are investigated as alternative network-type, transparent bottom-electrode for organic small molecule solar cells. For that purpose, cleaning and structuring as well as planarization procedures are developed and optimized which maintain the optoelectronic performance of the carbon nanotube electrodes. Furthermore, a hybrid electrode consisting of silver nanowires covered with carbon nanotubes is fabricated yielding organic solar cells with only 0.47 % power conversion efficiency. In contrast, optimized electrodes comprising only carbon nanotubes show significantly higher efficiency. In comparison to identically prepared ITO devices, comparable or lower power conversion efficiencies of 3.96 % (in p-i-n stack), 4.83 % (in cascade cell) as well as 4.81 % (in p-n-i-p architecture) are demonstrated. For an inverted n-i-p stack design, the highest power conversion efficiency of 5.42 % is achieved.

Mathematical models describing the Q-switched laser generation, which is a widely used laser technique for producing short intense pulses of light, belong to the class of semi-nonlinear models where only source terms nonlinearly depend on the solution. Numerical methods for solution of systems of semi-nonlinear partial differential equations have been extensively studied in many papers. Schrödinger-type equations, parabolic-type equations or general diffusion-reaction models arise in nonlinear optics. Such differential problems are solved mainly by finite-difference and Galerkin methods. The convergence analysis is based on the stability analysis of the linearized problems. The construction and theoretical analysis of discrete schemes for one-dimensional problem give a basis for a numerical solution of more general two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems where a diffraction process is taken into account. The two-dimensional problem simulates the dynamics of high-power semiconductor lasers. To solve the problems simulating propagation of photon fluxes in the nonlinear disperse medium, the finite-difference time-domain method is used. However, the major drawback of this method is that the computational domain must be sufficiently large. In order to restrict the computational domain and to solve the problem only in the region of interest, special artificial boundary conditions are investigated. The three-dimensional problem simulates an interaction of counter propagating... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjami kai kurių lazerių fizikos ir netiesinės optikos uždavinių skaitinės analizės metodai. Tiriami trys pagrindiniai atvejai: bėgančias plokščias bangas aprašantis vienmatis, bėgančias difraguojančias bangas nagrinėjantis dvimatis ir lazerio pluoštų sąveiką netiesinėje Kero terpėje modeliuojantis trimatis modeliai. Šiuos uždavinius sieja pernešimo diferencialinės lygtys dalinėmis išvestinėmis, aprašančios į priešingas puses sklindančias lazerio bangas. Dvimačiame ir trimačiame uždaviniuose sprendžiamos dalinių išvestinių Šrėdingerio (ang. Schrödinger) tipo diferencialinės lygtys. Šiems matematiniams modeliams sudarytos baigtinių skirtumų schemos, atlikta jų analizė ir pagrindimas. Skaitinių eksperimentų realizacijai sukurti lygiagretieji algoritmai, jie yra būtini atliekant didelių resursų reikalaujančius skaičiavimus. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros ir autoriaus publikacijų disertacijos tema sarašai. Įvadiniame skyriuje aptariama tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, aprašomas tyrimų objektas, formuluojamas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašoma tyrimų metodika, darbo mokslinis naujumas, darbo rezultatų praktinė reikšmė, ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos disertacijos tema autoriaus paskelbtos publikacijos ir pranešimai konferencijose bei disertacijos struktūra. Pirmasis skyrius skirtas mokslinės literatūros apžvalgai ir supažindinimui su netiesinės optikos sąvokomis bei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijoje nagrinėjami kai kurių lazerių fizikos ir netiesinės optikos uždavinių skaitinės analizės metodai. Tiriami trys pagrindiniai atvejai: bėgančias plokščias bangas aprašantis vienmatis, bėgančias difraguojančias bangas nagrinėjantis dvimatis ir lazerio pluoštų sąveiką netiesinėje Kero terpėje modeliuojantis trimatis modeliai. Šiuos uždavinius sieja pernešimo diferencialinės lygtys dalinėmis išvestinėmis, aprašančios į priešingas puses sklindančias lazerio bangas. Dvimačiame ir trimačiame uždaviniuose sprendžiamos dalinių išvestinių Šrėdingerio (ang. Schrödinger) tipo diferencialinės lygtys. Šiems matematiniams modeliams sudarytos baigtinių skirtumų schemos, atlikta jų analizė ir pagrindimas. Skaitinių eksperimentų realizacijai sukurti lygiagretieji algoritmai, jie yra būtini atliekant didelių resursų reikalaujančius skaičiavimus. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros ir autoriaus publikacijų disertacijos tema sarašai. Įvadiniame skyriuje aptariama tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, aprašomas tyrimų objektas, formuluojamas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašoma tyrimų metodika, darbo mokslinis naujumas, darbo rezultatų praktinė reikšmė, ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos disertacijos tema autoriaus paskelbtos publikacijos ir pranešimai konferencijose bei disertacijos struktūra. Pirmasis skyrius skirtas mokslinės literatūros apžvalgai ir supažindinimui su netiesinės optikos sąvokomis bei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Mathematical models describing the Q-switched laser generation, which is a widely used laser technique for producing short intense pulses of light, belong to the class of semi-nonlinear models where only source terms nonlinearly depend on the solution. Numerical methods for solution of systems of semi-nonlinear partial differential equations have been extensively studied in many papers. Schrödinger-type equations, parabolic-type equations or general diffusion-reaction models arise in nonlinear optics. Such differential problems are solved mainly by finite-difference and Galerkin methods. The convergence analysis is based on the stability analysis of the linearized problems. The construction and theoretical analysis of discrete schemes for one-dimensional problem give a basis for a numerical solution of more general two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems where a diffraction process is taken into account. The two-dimensional problem simulates the dynamics of high-power semiconductor lasers. To solve the problems simulating propagation of photon fluxes in the nonlinear disperse medium, the finite-difference time-domain method is used. However, the major drawback of this method is that the computational domain must be sufficiently large. In order to restrict the computational domain and to solve the problem only in the region of interest, special artificial boundary conditions are investigated. The three-dimensional problem simulates an interaction of counter propagating... [to full text]

Transparent conducting oxide (TCOs) thin films, including non-stoichiometric tin doped indium oxide (ITO) and aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO), have found considerable applications in various displays, solar cells, and electrochromic devices, due to their unique combination of high electrical conductivity and optical transparency. TCO thin films are normally fabricated by sputtering, thermal vapour deposition and sol-gel method. Among them, sol-gel processing, which was employed in this project, is no doubt the simplest and cheapest processing method, The main objectives of this project were to produce indium tin oxides (ITO) and zinc aluminium oxides (AZO) nanoparticles with controlled particle size and morphology and to fabricate TCO thin films with high optical transmittance and electrical conductivity. In this research, hydrothermal method was used to synthesise ITO and AZO nanoparticles. Tin oxides, zinc oxides, ITO and AZO particles with the particle size ranging from 10 nm to several micrometers and different morphologies were synthesised through controlling the starting salts, alkaline solvents and hydrothermal treatment conditions. ITO and AZO thin films were fabricated via sol-gel technique through dip coating method. The effects of the starting salts, alkaline solvents, surfactant additives and coating and calcination conditions on the formation of thin films were investigated. XRD, TEM, FEG-SEM, DSC-TGA, UV-Vis spectrometer and four-point probe resistance meter were used to characterise the crystallinity, particle size, morphology, optical transmittance and sheet resistance of the particles and thin films. Crack-free thin films with high optical transmittance (>80% at 550 nm) and low sheet resistances (2.11 kΩ for ITO and 26.4 kΩ for AZO) were obtained in optimised processing conditions.

Transparent UWB antennas have been the focus of this PhD research. The use of transparent UWB antennas for stealth and energy harvesting has been the underlying applications that have given impetus to this research. Such transparent antennas being built on materials that are discreet, flexible, conformal, conductive and having the ability to provide good antenna performance on glass to serve as the ‘last mile’ link in subsequent generation communications after 4G have been the basis for this contention. UWB in this regard is able to provide the transmission and reception of high data rates and fast video transmission that is an elementary demand of even a 4G wireless communications system. The integration of UWB antennas with photovoltaic to provide integral energy harvesting solutions that will further enhance the value of the UWB system in terms of cost effectiveness and performance are thus the basis of this work. This work hence starts with the study of a transparent conductive oxide polymer, AgHT and its properties, and culminates in the development of a transparent UWB antenna, which can be integrated with photovoltaic for window glass applications on homes and buildings. Other applications such transparent antennas can find use for like on-body wireless communications in healthcare monitoring was also analysed and presented. The radar absorbing material (RAM) property of the AgHT was investigated and highlighted using CST simulation software, as no measurement facilities were available. The transparent UWB antenna in lieu of the inherent absorbent property of the AgHT material is thus able to exhibit stealth characteristics, a feature that would be much desired in military communications. Introduction of a novel method of connecting the co-axial connector to the feed of the antenna to improve gain and efficiency of transparent polymer based antennas and the development of a UWB antenna that maintains its Omni-directional characteristic instead of becoming directional on an amorphous silicon solar cell are presented as some of the contributions for this research work. Some preliminary analysis on the impact of glass on UWB antennas for video transmission and how to improve transmission is presented. The ability of the conductive part of the antenna radiator to be used as a RF and microwave harvester and how it can further add value to a transparent UWB antenna is presented by way of experimental data. Finally yet importantly, this thesis presents some insight into how transparent antennas may be used in Green Technology Buildings to provide an integrated solution for both wireless communications and energy harvesting as part of the future work. Improvement to the aesthetics of the external appearance of residential buildings through the integration of transparent satellite dish onto solar panels on rooftops is also discussed and illustrated as part of this future work.