Laser-Induced Nanostructured Si and SiGe Layers for Enhanced Optical and Thermoelectric Performance.

We investigate a method for fabricating layers that exhibit both high optical absorption and promising thermoelectric properties. Using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), amorphous Si and SiGe layers are deposited on glass substrates and subsequently processed via laser annealing to achieve nanostructured layers. Our results show that a single laser annealing pulse at 40 mJ yields the highest power factor, approximately 90 μW/m·K.

Comparative Study of Polyethylene Films Embedded with Oxide Nanoparticles of Granulated and Free-Standing Nature.

Nanocomposite polymer films are a very diverse research field due to their many applications. The search for low-cost, versatile methods, producing regulated properties of the final products, has thus become extremely relevant. We have previously reported a bulk-scale process, dispersing granulated metal oxide nanoparticles, of both unary and multi-component nature, in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) polymer matrix, establishing a reference in the produced films' optical properties, due to the high degree of homogeneity and preservation of the primary particle size allowed by this method.

One step fabrication of Silicon nanocones with wide-angle enhanced light absorption.

We report the fabrication of an array of random Silicon nanocones using a KrF excimer laser. A 370 nm thick amorphous Silicon layer deposited on a glass substrate was used in the process. The fabricated nanocones showed a large and broadband absorption enhancement over the entire visible wavelength range.