Thin Film Device Applications

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.

Chemical Solution Synthesis for Materials Design and Thin Film Device Applications presents current research on wet chemical techniques for thin-film based devices. Sections cover the quality of thin films, types of common films used in devices, various thermodynamic properties, thin film patterning, device configuration and applications. As a whole, these topics create a roadmap for developing new materials and incorporating the results in device fabrication. This book is suitable for graduate, undergraduate, doctoral students, and researchers looking for quick guidance on material synthesis and device fabrication through wet chemical routes. Provides the different wet chemical routes for materials synthesis, along with the most relevant thin film structured materials for device applications Discusses patterning and solution processing of inorganic thin films, along with solvent-based processing techniques Includes an overview of key processes and methods in thin film synthesis, processing and device fabrication, such as nucleation, lithography and solution processing

Thin films have an extremely broad range of applications from electronics and optics to new materials and devices. Collaborative and multidisciplinary efforts from physicists, materials scientists, engineers and others have established and advanced a field with key pillars constituting (i) the synthesis and processing of thin films, (ii) the understanding of physical properties in relation to the nanometer scale, (iii) the design and fabrication of nano-devices or devices with thin film materials as building blocks, and (iv) the design and construction of novel tools for characterization of thin films.Against the backdrop of the increasingly interdisciplinary field, this book sets off to inform the basics of thin film physics and thin film devices. Readers are systematically introduced to the synthesis, processing and application of thin films; they will also study the formation of thin films, their structure and defects, and their various properties — mechanical, electrical, semiconducting, magnetic, and superconducting. With a primary focus on inorganic thin film materials, the book also ventures on organic materials such as self-assembled monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films.This book will be effective as a teaching or reference material in the various disciplines, ranging from Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Science and Engineering, Electronic Materials and Components, Semiconductor Physics and Devices, to Applied Physics and more. The original Chinese publication has been instrumental in this purpose across many Chinese universities and colleges.

The first dedicated book describing the properties, preparation, characterization and device applications of TiNi-based shape memory alloys.

Polycrystalline and Amorphous Thin Films and Devices is a compilation of papers that discusses the electronic, optical, and physical properties of thin material layers and films. This compilation reviews the different applications of thin films of various materials used as protective and optical coatings, thermal transfer layers, and selective membranes from submicron- area VLSI memory units to large-area energy conservation devices. Some papers discuss the basic properties, such as growth, structure, electrical, and optical mechanisms that are encountered in amorphous and polycrystalline thin semiconductor films. For example, experiments on electronic structure of dislocations have led to a model for the intrinsic properties of grain boundaries in polycrystalline semiconductor thin films that can have an impact on the designs of high-efficiency, thin-film solar cells. Other papers review the problems encountered in these thin layers in active semiconductor devices and passive technologies. Techniques in film growth and control variables of source, substrate temperature, and substrate properties will determine the successful performance of the devices installed with these thin film layers. This compilation can prove valuable for chemists, materials engineers, industrial technologists, and researchers in thin-film technology.

Thin-film solar cells are either emerging or about to emerge from the research laboratory to become commercially available devices finding practical various applications. Currently no textbook outlining the basic theoretical background, methods of fabrication and applications currently exist. Thus, this book aims to present for the first time an in-depth overview of this topic covering a broad range of thin-film solar cell technologies including both organic and inorganic materials, presented in a systematic fashion, by the scientific leaders in the respective domains. It covers a broad range of related topics, from physical principles to design, fabrication, characterization, and applications of novel photovoltaic devices.

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.

This book is focused on recent advances in the development of thin films for photovoltaic applications, TiO2/WO3 bi-layers for applications with enhanced photo-catalytic properties, nanometer oxide and hydroxide films for anticorrosive coatings, surface passivation in chemical industries, micro- and nanoelectronics, trilayers of metglas and lead free piezoelectrics for magnetic field sensors, current sensors, spintronics, microwave and read/write devices. Diluted ferromagnetic alloy films are also considered for superconducting spintronics based on superconducting spin-valves. Thermal properties of segmented nanowires are analyzed with respect to thermoelectric applications. Recent advances in template production of nanocomposites are also reviewed with particular focus on technologies for template assisted formation of metal nanotubes. Some elements related to abrasive flow machining (AFM), specifically state of the art elements of technological systems and construction of equipment are presented. The book is written for researchers in materials science, nanotechnologies, PhD students and graduate student.