Frontiers Of Thin Film Technology

Frontiers of Thin Film Technology, Volume 28 focuses on recent developments in those technologies that are critical to the successful growth, fabrication, and characterization of newly emerging solid-state thin film device architectures. Volume 28 is a condensed sampler of the Handbook for use by professional scientists, engineers, and students involved in the materials, design, fabrication, diagnostics, and measurement aspects of these important new devices.

Two-dimensional materials created ab initio by the process of condensation of atoms, molecules, or ions, called thin films, have unique properties significantly different from the corresponding bulk materials as a result of their physical dimensions, geometry, nonequilibrium microstructure, and metallurgy. Further, these characteristic features of thin films can be drasti cally modified and tailored to obtain the desired and required physical characteristics. These features form the basis of development of a host of extraordinary active and passive thin film device applications in the last two decades. On the one extreme, these applications are in the submicron dimensions in such areas as very large scale integration (VLSI), Josephson junction quantum interference devices, magnetic bubbles, and integrated optics. On the other extreme, large-area thin films are being used as selective coatings for solar thermal conversion, solar cells for photovoltaic conver sion, and protection and passivating layers. Indeed, one would be hard pressed to find many sophisticated modern optical and electronic devices which do not use thin films in one way or the other. With the impetus provided by industrial applications, the science and technology of thin films have undergone revolutionary development and even today continue to be recognized globally as frontier areas of RID work. Major technical developments in any field of science and technology are invariably accompanied by an explosion of published literature in the form of scientific publications, reviews, and books.

The report comprises a detailed description of the materials, techniques and problems in each of the three major areas of thin film applications--dielectrics, magnetics and semiconductors. Included in the report are also basic theories necessary for a complete understanding of the physical and chemical processes related to the areas of interest. Theoretical analysis leads to a description of the critical physical, chemical and structural requirements of films for device applications. The state of the art of all aspects of ceramic thin film technology is critically reviewed, and recommendations are suggested to overcome existing limitations.

Thin films are important in many of the technologies used every day, impacting major markets for energy, medicine, and coatings. Scientists and engineers have been producing thin films on a wide range of surfaces for many decades but now have begun to explore giving these films new and controlled structures at the nanometer scale. These efforts are part of the new horizons opened by the field of nanoscience and impart novel structures and properties to these thin films. This book covers some of the methods for making these nanostructured thin films and their applications in areas impacting on health and energy usage.

This book provides unique perspectives on both state-of-the-art hyperspectral techniques for the early-warning monitoring of water supplies against chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) contamination effects as well as the emerging spectroscopic science and technology base that will be used to support an array of CBR defense and security applications in the future. The technical content in this book lends itself to the non-traditional requirements for point and stand-off detection that have evolved out of the US joint services programs over many years. In particular, the scientific and technological work presented seeks to enable hyperspectral-based sensing and monitoring that is real-time; in-line; low in cost and labor; and easy to support, maintain and use in military- and security-relevant scenarios.

Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 Based Thin Film Solar Cells provides valuable contents about the fabrication and characterization of chalcopyrite Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 based thin film solar cells and modules. The growth of chalcopyrite Cu(In1-xGax)(S1-ySey)2 absorbers, buffers, window layers, antireflection coatings, and finally metallic grids, which are the sole components of solar cells, is clearly illustrated. The absorber, which contains multiple elements, segregates secondary phases if the growth conditions are not well optimized i.e., the main drawback in the fabrication of solar cells. More importantly the solutions for the growth of thin films are given in detail. The properties of all the individual layers and single crystals including solar cells analyzed by different characterization techniques such as SEM, AFM, XPS, AES, TEM, XRD, optical, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy are explicitly demonstrated. The electrical analyses such as conductivities, Hall mobilities, deep level transient spectroscopy measurements etc., provide a broad picture to understand thin films or single crystals and their solar cells. The book clearly explains the working principle of energy conversion from solar to electrical with basic sciences for the chalcopyrite based thin film solar cells. Also, it demonstrates important criteria on how to enhance efficiency of the solar cells and modules. The effect of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, aging etc., on the devices is mentioned by citing several examples. Illustrates a number of growth techniques to prepare thin film layers for solar cells Discusses characterization techniques such as XRD, TEM, XPS, AFM, SEM, PL, CL, Optical measurements, and Electrical measurements Includes I-V, C-V measurements illustrations Provides analysis of solar cell efficiency Presents current trends in thin film solar cells research and marketing

The book is devoted to the consideration of the different processes taking place in thin films and at surfaces. Since the most important physico-chemical phenomena in such media are accompanied by the rearrangement of an intra- and intermolecular coordinates and consequently a surrounding molecular ensemble, the theory of radiationless multi-vibrational transitions is used for its description. The second part of the book considers the numerous surface phenomena. And in the third part is described the preparation methods and characteristics of different types of thin films. Both experimental and theoretical descriptions are represented. Media rearrangement coupled with the reagent transformation largely determines the absolute value and temperature dependence of the rate constants and other characteristics of the considered processes. These effects are described at the atomic or molecular level based on the multi-phonon theory, starting from the first pioneering studies through to contemporary studies. A number of questions are included at the end of many chapters to further reinforce the material presented. · Unified approach to the description of numerous physico-chemical phenomena in different materials · Based on the pioneering research work of the authors · Explantion of a variety of experimental observations · Material is presented at two levels of complexity for specialists and non-specialists · Identifies existing and potential applications of the processes and phenomena · Includes questions at the end of some chapters to further reinforce the material discussed

Functional Thin Films Technology features the functional aspects of thin films, such as their application in solar selective absorbers, fiber lasers, solid oxide fuel cells, piezo-related areas, catalysts, superhydrophobicity, semiconductors, and trace pesticides detection. It highlights developments and advances in the preparation, characterization, and applications of functional micro-/nano-scaled films and coatings. This book Presents technologies aimed at functionality used in nanoelectronics, solar selective absorbers, solid oxide fuel cells, piezo-applications, and sensors Covers absorbers, catalysts, anodic aluminum oxide, superhydrophobics, and semiconductor devices Features a chapter on transport phenomena associated to structures Discusses transport phenomena and material informatics This second volume in the two-volume set, Protective Thin Coatings and Functional Thin Films Technology, will benefit industry professionals and researchers working in areas related to semiconductors, optoelectronics, plasma technology, solid-state energy storages, and 5G, as well as advanced students studying electrical, mechanical, chemical, and materials engineering.