Investigation of Textured Back Reflectors for Microcrystalline Silicon Based Solar Cells

Microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) solar cells require an effective light trapping in the near infrared (NIR) to enhance the long wavelength spectral response. For this purpose we investigated back reflectors based on texture-etched ZnO/Ag stacks prepared on glass substrates by magnetron sputtering. With decreasing sputter pressure the resulting surface texture of the glass/Ag/ZnO substrates after etching exhibits a larger feature size and root mean square roughness. The increase in feature size corresponds to an increase of diffuse reflectivity. Applied in microcrystalline solar cells prepared by VHF plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), the reflectors showing the largest feature size (prepared at the lowest possible sputter pressure) yielded the highest long wavelength spectral response. The μc-Si n-i-p cells prepared on the latter back reflector exhibited efficiencies of 6.9 % (short circuit current density jsc= 18.8 mA/cm2) and 7.5 % (jsc=25 mA/cm2) for an i-layer thickness of 1 μm and 3.5 μm, respectively.

More Insights Into the ZnO/a-SiC:H(B) Interface - An Improved TCO/p Contact

Solar cells based on amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) exhibit a decreased fill factor if ZnO is used as front electrode instead of SnO2. This is due to a poor electric contact between the ZnO and the p-type a-SiC:H(B) layer. To gain a deeper understanding of the chemical and electronic properties of the ZnO/p interface, in-situ XPS measurements were applied to thin a-SiC:H(B) films deposited on ZnO. The effects of CO2 and H2 plasma pretreatments on clean ZnO surfaces and the influence of deposition conditions on the ZnO/a-SiC:H interface were investigated. Upon H2 plasma treatment the formation of SiOx by chemical transport of Si from the reactor walls is observed. Furthermore, a shift of all core levels towards higher binding energies indicates the formation of an accumulation layer. CO2 plasma treatments show no effects on ZnO. Depth profiling across the ZnO/a-SiC:H interface indicates SiO2 formation on ZnO. The depth profile of ZnO related core levels exhibits two features: a reduction of the ZnO at the interface, and, after longer sputter times, a core level shift towards higher binding energy due to an hydrogen induced accumulation layer in the n-type ZnO. The latter causes a depletion of the p-layer resulting in an enhanced series resistance and diminished fill factor. To reduce the depletion layer thin highly conductive microcrystalline layers were introduced, increasing the fill factor up to 74%.

Optoelectronic Properties of Thin Amorphous and Micro-Crystalline p-Type Films Developed for Amorphous Silicon-Based Solar Cells

VIIF-PECVD at 110 MI-z was used to deposit micro-crystalline p-layers on glass substrates for detailed analysis and onto ZnO coated substrates for incorporation into p-i-n solar cell structures. Solar cell and film analysis confirmed that the films incorporated into the solar cells contained significant crystalline silicon volume fractions despite being only 30 nm thick. The p-i-n solar cells employing a micro-crystalline silicon p-layer deposited on ZnO coated substrates had series resistances, fill factors and Voc similar to those of the reference solar cells deposited onto SnO2 coated substrates and having optimized amorphous silicon-carbon p-layers. The short circuit current of the micro-crystalline p-layer case was 10 percent lower than that of the reference cell indicating that further optimization is required.

Key factors and timing patterns in the tennis forehand of different skill levels

The main purpose of the present study was to quantify and compare selected kinematic variables and their timing during the tennis forehand of different skill levels. An eight-camera 400 Hz, Vicon motion analysis system recorded kinematic data of six ATP- professionals (elite) and seven high performance (HP) players when shots were played cross court and down the line. Timing of the maximum angles, linear and angular velocities was measured prior to and after impact. A total of twelve strokes per subject were analyzed from the beginning to the end of horizontal racquet movement. Significant differences (p < 0.01) and large effect sizes were observed between elite and HP players in the timing of maximum pelvis (-0.075 ± 0.008 vs. -0.093 ± 0.012 s) and trunk angular velocities (-0.057 ± 0.004 vs. -0.075 ± 0.011 s) before impact. The elite group showed a tendency (p < 0.05) towards higher peak horizontal shoulder (3.0 ± 0.4 vs. 2.5 ± 0.4 m·s(-1)) and racquet velocities (33.1 ± 2.4 vs. 31.1 ± 1.9 m·s(-1)) compared to the HP players. Depending on the situation (cross court vs. down the line), different peak hip, racquet and separation angles were found for both groups. Similar peak values were detected between groups for maximum angular velocities and displacement of key variables that had been selected for analysis. The findings of this study can be vital for successful player development, improved performance or injury prevention. The later occurrence of maximum angular pelvis and trunk rotations were the main reasons for the tendency towards higher horizontal shoulder and racquet velocities in the elite group. Key pointsDifferent timing of maximum angular pelvis and trunk rotations separated the elite from the high performance players.The elite group tended to reach higher horizontal shoulder and racquet velocities than the high performance group.In addition to maximum angular velocities, maximum racquet, shoulder, and hip alignment angles were similar between groups.To improve the forehand performance level of their athletes, coaches should focus on proper pelvis and trunk rotation.

Drug development from natural products: exploiting synergistic effects

Drug development in phytomedicine has been focused in the past on the discovery and analysis of new structures from natural products. The search aimed at the determination of the single "active principle" in plants, based on the assumption that a plant has one or a few ingredients which determine its therapeutic effects. But traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine or the European phytotherapy generally assume that a synergy of all ingredients of the plants will bring about the maximum of therapeutic efficacy. This approach has for long been impossible to investigate since adequate methods to standardize complex plant mixtures as well as to rationalize complex mode of actions were lacking. The introduction of high throughput technologies provides the opportunity to determine profiles of plants and to systematically explore the mode of action of combinatory drug regimes. The present review highlights the concept of synergy and gives examples of synergistic effects of plant constituents. It elaborates on how the high throughput technologies can be used in drug development from natural products with the aim of creating evidence-based plant medications in prevention and treatment of different diseases in the form of new single treatments or new combinatory drug regimes while exploiting synergy-effects.

Kinematic description of elite vs. Low level players in team-handball jump throw

The jump throw is the most applied throwing technique in team- handball (Wagner et al., 2008); however, a comprehensive analysis of 3D-kinematics of the team-handball jump throw is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of our study was: 1) to measure differences in ball release speed in team- handball jump throw and anthropometric parameters between groups of different levels of performance and (2) to analyze upper body 3D-kinematics (flexion/extension and rotation) to determine significant differences between these groups. Three-dimensional kinematic data was analyzed via the Vicon MX 13 motion capturing system (Vicon Peak, Oxford, UK) from 26 male team-handball players of different performance levels (mean age: 21.2 ± 5.0 years). The participants were instructed to throw the ball (IHF Size 3) onto a target at 8 m distance, and to hit the center of a square of 1 × 1 m at about eye level (1.75 m), with maximum ball release speed. Significant differences between elite vs. low level players were found in the ball release speed (p < 0.001), body height (p < 0.05), body weight (p < 0.05), maximal trunk internal rotation (p < 0.05), trunk flexion (p < 0.01) and forearm pronation (p < 0.05) as well as trunk flexion (p < 0.05) and shoulder internal rotation (p < 0.001) angular velocity at ball release. Results of our study suggest that team-handball players who were taller and of greater body weight have the ability to achieve a higher ball release speed in the jump throw, and that an increase in trunk flexion and rotation angular velocity improve the performance in team-handball jump throw that should result in an increase of ball release speed. Key pointsTeam-handball players who were taller and of greater body weight have the ability to achieve a higher ball release speed.An increase in trunk flexion, trunk rotation and shoulder internal rotation angular velocity should result in an increase of ball release speed.Trunk movements are normally well observable for experienced coaches, easy correctable and therefore practical to improve the performance in team-handball jump throw of low level players during training without using complex measurement devices.

Influence of various iodine supplementation levels and two different iodine species on the iodine content of the milk of cows fed rapeseed meal or distillers dried grains with solubles as the protein source

Supplementation of animal feed with iodine influences the iodine content of milk and therefore, in addition to salt iodination, provides another possibility for improving the human iodine supply. On the other hand, excessive iodine intake by humans through drinking milk must be avoided. Furthermore, the iodine content of milk varies, depending on the presence of iodine antagonists in feed (e.g., glucosinolates in rapeseed) and the applied iodine species. This study evaluated the impact of various feed iodine supplementation levels up to the permitted maximum level, the effect of applying rapeseed compared with a glucosinolate-free ration, and the impact of 2 different iodine species on the iodine content of milk. A total of 32 dairy cows were divided into 4 groups with 8 animals each. Two groups received distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as the protein source, and the others received rapeseed meal (RSM, 16.5% of total diet). In each case, half the animals received feed supplemented with iodine in the form of potassium iodide, and the other half received feed supplemented with iodine in the form of calcium iodate. Iodine supplementation levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/kg of dry matter (DM) were tested in consecutive periods of 21 d each. The milk iodine concentration increased with increasing iodine supplementation of the feed. Rapeseed meal in the ration (0.58 mmol of glucosinolates/kg of diet DM) diminished the milk iodine concentration by up to one-half to one-third of the concentration achieved by DDGS. At iodine supplementation levels of 2 mg/kg of DM and higher, the differences were significant. The application of iodate predominantly resulted in higher milk iodine concentrations compared with iodide, but not significantly in any period. At the highest tested iodine supplementation (5 mg/kg of DM), the milk iodine concentration increased up to 1,464 (iodide) and 1,578 microg/kg (iodate) when feeding DDGS and up to 718 (iodide) and 620 microg/kg (iodate) in the RSM groups. The carry over of iodine from feed into milk amounted to 30 to 56% when using DDGS, and 11 to 25% when using RSM. The maximum level of iodine currently allowed in the feed of dairy cows in Europe could lead to high milk iodine concentrations. As a result, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level in human nutrition could be exceeded. Therefore, this maximum level needs to be reevaluated. In addition to iodine supplementation, the application of RSM in the ration must be considered when estimating the iodine content of milk.