Energy Harvesting
Thin film nano-materials play a major role in future energy harvesting technologies. We have different approaches to this research utilizing the experience of the Namlab team with the charging behavior of thin dielectric layers in silicon technology. Thin dielectric layers and the influence of doping and crystallinity on the passivation behavior of silicon solar cells are being investigated in detail. Here the focus is on materials such as Al2O3 with different dopants. In addition, semiconductor nano-crystals and the energy transfer to rare earth elements is being studied. The films are deposited by thin film deposition methods. Very precise size control of the nano-crystals can be introduced utilizing a so-called superlattice approach. The energy transfer to the rare earth elements enhances light emission and up-conversion properties: Light can be transformed from infrared into the visible wave lengths.
Energy conversion layers
In addition, semiconductor nano-crystals and the energy transfer to rare earth elements is being studied. The films are deposited by thin film deposition methods. Very precise size control of the nano-crystals can be introduced utilizing a so-called superlattice approach. The energy transfer to the rare earth elements enhances light emission and up-conversion properties: Light can be transformed from infrared into the visible wave lengths.
Grätzel Cell
In dye-sensitized-cells thin TiO2 layers on nano-crystalline TiO2 deposited by ALD are used to stabilize a certain crystalline phase of TiO2 and enhance the electron transfer from the dye to the nano-crystalline TiO2. Furthermore, Si-nanowires are being investigated as anode material for future lithium ion battery applications. These electrodes allow up to a ten-fold increase of the charge density.