Cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) are two leading semiconductor materials used in the fabrication of thin film solar cells of relatively high power conversion efficiency and low manufacturing cost. In this work, CdS/CdTe solar cells with a varying set of processing parameters and device designs were fabricated and characterized for comparative evaluation. Studies were undertaken to elucidate the effects of (i) each step in fabrication and (ii) parameters like thickness, sheet resistance, light absorptivity solution concentration, inert gas pressure etc. Best results were obtained when the thickness of CdS planar film for the window layer was in the range of 150 nm to 200 nm. Also, CdS nanowires were fabricated for use as the window layer in CdS-CdTe solar cells. Their materials characteristics were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Spectral absorption measurements on the planar CdS films and nanowire CdS layers were performed and results compared. It was established that the nanowire CdS design was superior because its absorption of sunlight was far less than that of planar CdS film, which would lead to enhanced performance in the CdS-CdTe solar cell through higher short circuit current density and higher open circuit voltage. Diode behavior of CdS-CdTe devices on planar CdS and nanowire CdS was analyzed and compared. KEYWORDS: Thin Film Solar Cell, Nanowire, UV Absorption, Open-circuit Voltage, Close Space Sublimation

In the general part of this diploma thesis are presented technical information collected on the issue of spontaneous decay of ozone in water solution and problems with analytical monitoring of these processes. Particular attention is paid to influence of pH value, bicarbonate and peroxide concentration on ozone decay kinetics. Experimental part is focused on the use of spectrophotometry in the study of chemical reactions associated with the spontaneous decay of ozone in distilled and tap water depending on pH and temperature after saturating of water by ozone prepared from air and pure oxygen. Direct photometry in UV range of spectrum (at 260 nm) was used to monitoring of ozone decomposition kinetics.

Chapter 1.<br />1-Ethynyl-2-phenyltetramethyldisilanes HCºCSiMe2SiMe2C6H4-p-X [X = NMe2(1.1), Me (1.2), H (1.3), Br (1.4), CF3 (1.5)] are accessible from ClSiMe2SiMe2Cl, BrMgC6H4X and HCºCMgBr in a two step Grignard reaction. The crystal structure of 1.1 as determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography exhibits a nearly planar PhNMe2 moiety and an unusual gauche array of the phenyl and the acetylene group with respect to rotation around the Si-Si-bond. Full geometry optimization (B3LYP/6- 31+G**) of the gas phase structures of 1.1 and 1.3 affords minima for the gauche and the trans rotational isomers, both being very close in energy with a rotational barrier of only 3 – 5 kJ/mol. Experimental and calculated (time-dependent DFT B3LYP/TZVP) UV absorption data of 1.1 – 1.5 show pronounced electronic interactions of the HCºC- and the C6H4X p-systems with the central Si-Si bond.<br /><br />Chapter 2.<br />A family of [( 5-Cp*)Ru( 6-arene)]+ (Cp* = C5Me5) sandwich complexes of 1- and 1,4-substituted phenyl and naphthyl systems are described along with the regioselectivities of the reactions under various conditions. Finally, the (h 5-Cp*) Ru+ arenophile was found to act as a gate to the flow of electrons between para-substituted termini. When it is complexed onto the phenyl or A naphthyl ring, the gate is closed. On the contrary, when it is complexed onto the B naphthyl ring, the gate is open.<br /><br />Chapter 3.<br />Regioselective complexation reactions of the organoiron acetylide derivatives (h 2- dppe)(h 5-Cp*)Fe-C C-Ar (Ar = phenyl, 1-naphthyl; dppe = 1,2- bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with [(h 5-Cp*Ru(CH3CN)3][PF6] to afford heterobimetallic complexes formulated as [(h 2-dppe)(h 5-Cp*)Fe-C C-{(h 6-Ar)Ru(h 5- Cp*)}][PF6], were achieved. In the case of the FeII-RuII 1-naphthyl derivative, the (h 5-Cp*)Ru+ arenophile was complexed both onto the substituted ring and free rings of the acetylide 1-naphthyl linker. The first redox-driven h 6-h 6 inter-ring haptotropic migration of the (h 5-Cp*)Ru+ moeity was shown to occur. Crystal structures of all of the seven new iron acetylenes were resolved, including both haptotropomers of the naphthyl compound.<br /><br />Chapter 4.<br />The diorganoiron [{(h2-dpppe)(h5-Cp*)Fe-CC-}2(1,4-naphthyl)] (4.12) was synthesized in good yield in two steps via the vinylidene, and oxidation led to the mixed valence (MV) and iron(III)-iron(III) species in good to excellent yields. This exhaustive empirical study on the family of complexes 4.12[PF6]n (n = 0,1,2) includes a crystal structure for the case in which n = 2. This work clearly establishes good electronic and magnetic communication between the iron centers across the bis(ethynyl)naphthalene bridge. All empirical measurements of these naphthyl compounds reveal that their properties fall between those of known phenyl and anthracenyl derivatives. In some cases, the naphthyl derivative behaves as an average of the phenyl and anthracenyl complexes. For example, the comproportionation constant of the naphthyl species falls at the midpoint between those for the phenyl and anthracenyl compounds. The same is true for the UV absorption maxima in all three oxidation states (Fe[II]- Fe[II], MV, and Fe[III]- Fe[III]). The large electronic (2043 cm-1) and magnetic (-526 cm-1) coupling constants were determined via NIR spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry, respectively. As for the heterotrinuclear species, the iron(II) acetylene, 4.14B[PF6] [{Cp*(dppe)Fe-C C}2-(h 6 – [1,4-napthyl])RuCp*](PF6), [Cp* = h 5 - C5Me5; Fe = FeII] was prepared in high yields with an adapted, regioselective synthesis via the trinuclear vinylidene. Complete characterization, including a crystal structure, of this sandwich complex reveals that the arenophile perturbs the organoiron ligand more in the bis(iron) than in the previously reported mono(iron) case.

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In forensic chemistry, a quicker and more accurate analysis of a sample is always being pursued. Speedy analyses allow the analyst to provide quick turn-around times and potentially decrease back-logs that are known to be a problem in the field. Accurate analyses are paramount with the futures and lives of the accused potentially on the line. One of the most common methods of analysis in forensic chemistry laboratories is gas chromatography, chosen for the relative speed and efficiency afforded by this method. Two major routes were attempted to further improve on gas chromatography applications in forensic chemistry.<br> The first route was to decrease separation times for analysis of ignitable liquid residues by using micro-bore wall coated open-tubular columns. Micro-bore columns are much shorter and have higher separation efficiencies than the standard columns used in forensic chemistry, allowing for faster analysis times while maintaining the expected peak separation. Typical separation times for fire debris samples are between thirty minutes and one hour, the micro-bore columns were able to achieve equivalent performance in three minutes. The reduction in analysis time was demonstrated by analysis of ignitable liquid residues from simulated fire debris exemplars.<br> The second route looked at a relatively new detector for gas chromatography known as a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrophotometer. The VUV detector uses traditional UV and far-ultraviolet light to probe the pi and sigma bonds of the gas phase analytes as well as Rydberg traditions to produce spectra that are nearly unique to a compound. Thus far, the only spectra that were not discernable were from enantiomers, otherwise even diastereomers have been differentiated. The specificity attained with the VUV detector has achieved differentiation of compounds that mass spectrometry, the most common detection method for chromatography in forensic chemistry labs, has difficulty distinguishing. This specificity has been demonstrated herein by analyzing various classes of drugs of abuse and applicability to “real world” samples has been demonstrated by analysis of de-identified seized samples.<br>