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This thesis presents an experimental study of the incorporation and optimization of sol-gel processed aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films in solar cell devices. I first optimized the optoelectronic properties of AZO thin films by manipulating the dopant incorporation, choice of precursor chemicals and post deposition anneal treatments. Results showed that improved performance could be attributed to several factors, including improved charge carrier concentration, mobility and conductivity. AZO thin films with transmittance of over 90% and resistivity values of the order of 10-2 Ω•cm have been achieved. I also demonstrated the successful application of these AZO thin films in organic photovoltaics (OPV), to serve as an alternative to ITO electrodes. I demonstrated greater than 2-fold improvement in device efficiency through the modification of the front contact/polymer interface using zinc oxide buffer layers. This improved the charge selectivity of the electrodes and energy level alignment at the interface while reducing the recombination of separated charges and the device's series resistance. Finally, I showed that the efficiency of inverted ZnO/PbS quantum dots solar cells can be enhanced by optimizing the p-type PbS thickness, UV treating the n-type ZnO layer and exposing the devices in the dark to nitrogen. Both ZnO and AZO systems were studied, and efficiency enhancement were demonstrated for a range of Al content from 0 to O.4at.%.

The study of magnetic properties and structures of Zn and Cd substituted mixed ferrites has been carried out using Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction on powdered samples at about 300 K. Two series of mixed ferrites, (Cd, Zn)xCol-xFe2-xAlxO4 and (Cd, Zn)xCo0.9Fe1.7-xTi0.4O 4 (where 0≤ x≤1.0) were synthesized. In the former series the effect of simultaneous site dilution by Zn or Cd and Ai atoms on tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites is investigated and in the latter the effect of single site dilution by Zn or Cd is also studied. The Mossbauer spectra show that the compounds transform with increase in x from ordered to disordered magnetic states. Systematic decrease in the hyperfine fields indicating weakening of the magnetic coupling with an increase in x is observed. We report the presence of a cross over effect with respect to the hyperfine fields on A and B sites at low concentration of diamagnetic ions in the simultaneously diluted series. Both series of compounds show no significant changes in isomer shifts with x. Differences in the evolution of Fe atoms on A and B sites between Zn and Cd based compounds are observed. The results of our analysis show that Zn and Cd ions occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The spinel structure of the compounds studied in this work is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The lattice parameters derived from XRD show systematic change with x consistent with Vergard's law. In Cd based samples an increase of the lattice parameter with x is explained on the basis of the size difference of the cations involved. However, an anomalous behavior of the lattice parameter is observed in Zn based samples. The average grain sizes of the samples were determined from the line width of the (311) XRD intensity lines using the Scherrer formula. These vary between 50 nm and 70 nm for all the samples except for Zn and Al substituted samples which show a systematic anomalous reduction for x ≥ 0.4 in grain size. The porosity, x-ray and bulk densities of the samples are also presented. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

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Orientador: Amauri Garcia / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T18:19:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brito_CrystopherCardosode_M.pdf: 5987853 bytes, checksum: 8c9764c70d9a01b404ffd574cf718684 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O desenvolvimento de microestruturas durante a solidificação de ligas peritéticas tem muito interesse nos últimos anos, em função da versatilidade, em termos de aplicação, de muitas ligas de sistemas peritéticos. Na solidificação de ligas peritéticas binárias em equilíbrio, o líquido durante o resfriamento ao atingir a temperatura peritética reage com uma fase sólida primária, para formar uma segunda fase sólida. Isto só é possível em condições de completo equilíbrio. A literatura mostra que está sendo dada bastante atenção a estudos experimentais de solidificação unidirecional de ligas peritéticas, entretanto essas investigações estão sendo conduzidas em condições permanentes de solidificação, onde tanto o gradiente térmico, quanto a velocidade de crescimento podem ser controlados independentemente e mantidos constantes com o tempo. A solidificação direcional de ligas peritéticas em condições transitórias de fluxo de calor, próximas das impostas nos processos industriais, não tem sido objeto de estudos experimentais detalhados. Ligas Zn-Cu com composições ricas em zinco, como a Zn-1%Cu (monofásica) e a Zn-2,2%Cu (hipoperitética), foram direcionalmente solidificadas em regime transitório de fluxo de calor. As curvas experimentais de resfriamento permitiram a determinação dos parâmetros térmicos...Observação: O resumo, na íntegra, poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: The development of microstructures during peritectic solidification has attracted more attention in recent years because of the wide application of many peritectic alloys. For equilibrium peritectic solidification of binary alloys, the liquid on cooling reacts at the peritectic temperature with the upper solid phase to form a lower solid phase. This is only possible under conditions of complete equilibrium. Although considerable attention has been paid to unidirectional solidification of peritectic alloys, most of these investigations are carried out under steady-state solidification, where both the growth rate and the thermal gradient can be independently controlled and held constant in time. The directional solidification of peritectic alloys in unsteady-state heat flow conditions, which is the class of heat flow encompassing the majority of industrial solidification processes, has not been the subject of detailed experimental studies. In the present study, Zn-1.0wt.%Cu (monophasic) and Zn-2.2wt.%Cu (hypoperitectic) alloys were directionally solidified under unsteady-state heat flow conditions. The experimental cooling curves allowed solidification thermal parameters...Note: The complete abstract is available with the full electronic document / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Orientador: Celia Marina de Alvarenga Freire / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T09:48:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_MarciaCristinaGoncalvesdos_M.pdf: 7174846 bytes, checksum: 71b57284d8926f02702b824e265c956a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A excelente resistência do Zinco em diferentes ambientes corrosivos e sua habilidade em proteger o aço, fazem do aço galvanizado e eletrodepósitos, materiais comuns na indústria automotiva e de construção civil. Os substratos de aço galvanizado e eletrodepósitos de Zinco necessitam, no entanto, ser protegidos em ambientes altamente corrosivos por revestimentos orgânicos (pinturas).A má aderência do sistema Zinco/pintura faz com que a superfície do substrato de Zinco receba um pré-tratamento contendo Cromo relativamente barato e efetivo porém, tóxico ao homem e ao meio ambiente. Filmes poliméricos contendo silanos organofuncionais surgem como alternativa à substituição de pré-tratamento livre de Cromo hexavalente 'CR POT. +6¿, pois são moléculas que podem atuar como agente de acoplamento, promotores de adesão e como protetoras de superfície. A principal vantagem da sua utilização é a promoção da adesão entre materiais orgânicos (pinturas) e inorgânicos (metais). Os sistemas Galvanizado/Silano e Ligas eletrodepositadas/Silano, foram estudados nesta dissertação. Para tanto, técnicas como EIE (Espectroscopia de Impedância Eletroquímica), XPS (Espectrometria Fotoelétrica de Emissão de Raios-X), Ângulo de Contato e análises microscópicas foram utilizadas. A avaliação da resistência por barreira foi feita através da Espectroscopia de Impedância Eletroquímica em solução de 0,1 M de NaCI, comparando-se os desempenhos dos revestimentos. A cura induziu uma modificação importante nos diagramas de impedância, além de outras variáveis, como a concentração, o tempo de hidrólise, os tipos de silano e os substratos diferentes. Os resultados indicaram o Zn/Co revestido por VS e Zn/Fe revestido por 'gama¿-UPS como os sistemas mais promissores / Abstract: The Zinc' s excellent resistance, as used in differents corrosive environments, and its hability to protect steel, make galvanized steel (HDG) and Zinc electrodepositions very usual materiaIs in the automotive and construction industries. Galvanized steel and Zinc electrodepositions substrates need, however, to be protected from strongly corrosive environments by organic coatings (painting). Zinc/paint system weak adhesion results in a relatively cheap and effective zinc substrate pretreatment, however toxic to humam being, and also to the environment. Organofunctional silanes appear as an altemative to substitute this pretreatment, without making use of hexavalent chromium 'CR POT. +6¿), because they are bifuncional molecules that can act as adhesion promoters and surface protectors. The main benefit to employ them is to promote adhesion between organic (painting) and inorganic (metals) materiaIs. The GalvanizedlSilane and Electrodeposition Alloys/Silane systems had been studied in this essay. Techniques like EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy), XPS (X-Ray Emission Photoeletric Spectrometry), Contact Angle and microscopical analyses were used in this work. The barrier for resistance was evaluated through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in a 0,1M NaCI solution comparing coatings performances. Curing caused as importante modification in the impedance diagrams, as well as other variables like concentration, hydrolysis time, silane types and different substrates. The results indicate the Zn/Co alloy coated for VS and Zn/Fe alloy coated for 'gama¿-UPS as the systems most promising / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

When slow wear mechanisms are studied it is important to examine slower processes, such as diffusion. Such processes can have a significant impact over time and can cause other phases to form, which can have a large effect on the wear. This thesis has investigated the diffusion that is believed to take place between brass and cemented carbide tools. This was done to further the understanding of the slow atomic wear which if properly understood, could lead to solutions that would increase the lifetime of the tools. The diffusion pairs were made from a tribological contact and then heat treated to speed up the diffusion process. Different temperatures and times were tested, from 400 °C for 3 h to 700 °C for 24 h. The samples were analysed with SEM and EDS both before and after the heat treatment, to see if diffusion had taken place. However, because of many unexpected processes and reactions the analysis could not confirm that diffusion had taken place. The transportation of Cu at the higher temperatures was much faster than expected, and in some samples, Cu could not be detected after the heating. Since the surface was so mobile, the slower diffusion process did not have time to take place. Many improvements for future experiments are suggested to be able to observe the diffusion, such as depositing a thin film or adding more work material.

M.S.

The optimal conditions for deposition of zinc-nickel alloys onto stainless steel discs in alkaline solutions have been examined. In the past cadmium has been used because it shows good corrosion protection, but other methods are being examined due to the high toxicity and environmental threats posed by its use. Zinc has been found to provide good corrosion resistance, but the corrosion resistance is greatly increased when alloyed with nickel. The concentration of nickel in the deposit has long been a debated issue, but for basic solutions a nickel concentration of 8-15% appears optimal. However, deposition of zinc-nickel alloys from acidic solutions has average nickel concentrations of 12-15%. Alkaline conditions give a more uniform deposition layer, or better metal distribution, thereby a better corrosion resistance. Although TEA (triethanolamine) is most commonly used to complex the metals in solution, in this work I examined TEA along with other complexing agents. Although alkaline solutions have been examined, most research has been done in pH ≥ 12 solutions. However, there has been some work performed in the pH 9.3-9.5 range. This work examines different ligands in a pH 9.3-9.4 range. Direct potential plating and pulse potential plating methods are examined for optimal platings. The deposits were examined and characterized by XRD.