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Aluminium doped zinc oxide thin films are prepared by Radio Frequency magnetron sputtering in pure argon atmosphere at 100W. The structural results reveal good film adhesion on a silicon substrate (001). The thin films were then subjected to heat treatment in a furnace under ambient air. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the thin films as a function of deposition time and annealing temperatures have been investigated using Grazing incidence X-Ray Diffraction (GIXRD), Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electronic Microscopy. The photoluminescence properties of the annealed films showed significant changes in the optical properties attributed to mid gap defects. Annealing increases the crystallite size and the roughness of the film. The crystallinity of the films also improved as evident from the Raman and XRD studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au based plasmonic phenomenon inside the hole transport layer poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) of an organic solar cell based on blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6:6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBM) is investigated. The concentration of the Au nanoparticles synthesized by wet chemical reduction is one of the key factors to strong light trapping when the spherical gold nanoparticles are blended into the PEDOT:PSS solution. Studies of the influence of the concentration of nanoparticles distribution in the PEDOT:PSS were carried out using UV–Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Electrical characteristics of the pristine device and of device with metallic nanostructures were analyzed from J –V characteristics to observe the plasmonic effects on the performance in the P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells. The origin of the photocurrent enhancements with varying Au nanoparticles concentrations on PEDOT:PSS are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of silicon nanowires (SiNWs), (diameter <10 nm) to transform into rigid bundlelike structures with distinct phonon confinement under high pressure (≤15 GPa), instead of amorphizing as per previous reports, is demonstrated using in situ Raman spectroscopy. The observed splitting of the second order transverse optical (2TO) Raman mode into 2TO(L) and 2TO(W) phonon modes at ≥5 GPa establishes a highly anisotropic and mode-dependent pressure response of these SiNWs. Properties of these structures are superior compared to other nanostructured silicon and bulk-Si in terms of increased linear modulus, more localized phonon confinement, and less anharmonicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]