Controlling Thin Film Structures for Efficient Solar Energy Storage
A theoretical and numerical framework has been developed by researchers at Purdue University to predict the microstructures that result from the PVD process including islands, mesas, and thin and thick films. The developed theory describes commercially-viable time scales (from seconds to hours) and length scales (nanometers to millimeters). The developed infrastructure removes the limitations the two major existing individual simulation techniques possessed while taking advantage of their individual benefits. This technology would give users a more complete and accurate prediction of the microstructure that will result from vapor deposition. A major application of thin films is in photovoltaic cells. When developers can monitor both microface structure evolution and PVD growth, they can create higher quality solar cells that can store energy more effectively.
Simultaneous describe PVD growth and internal microstructureMore practical time and length scales
Solar industrySolar panel manufacturers
R. Edwin GarciaR. Edwin Garcia Research GroupPurdue Materials Engineering
United States
None
USA
