Atypical methods for characterization of used photovoltaic panels during their pre- and Post-Thermal treatment assessment.

The study presents an innovative approach to the analysis of waste silicon photovoltaic panels prior and after thermal treatment. Using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), the elemental composition of multilayered panel backsheets was determined, identifying a TiO-containing coating laminate, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) layer, and an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant, while also estimating their thickness. Identifying the fluorine-containing layers allowed their selective removal and safe processing of the used panels.

The Effect of Biological Corrosion on the Hydration Processes of Synthetic Tricalcium Aluminate (CA).

This paper presents a study related to the biological degradation of a tricalcium aluminate (CA) phase treated with reactive media from the agricultural industry. During one month of setting and hardening, synthetic CA was subjected to corrosion in corn silage, pig slurry and chicken manure. The hardening process of the CA phase in water was used as a reference sample.

Studies on Cement Pastes Exposed to Water and Solutions of Biological Waste.

The paper presents studies on the early stages of biological corrosion of ordinary Portland cements (OPC) subjected to the reactive media from the agricultural industry. For ten months, cement pastes of CEM I type with various chemical compositions were exposed to pig slurry, and water was used as a reference. The phase composition and structure of hydrating cement pastes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA/TG/DTG/EGA), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

Spin relaxation by transient monopolar and bipolar optical orientation.

We have used two-color time-resolved spectroscopy to measure the relaxation of electron spin polarizations in a bulk semiconductor. The circularly polarized pump beam induces a polarization either by direct excitation from the valence band, or by free-carrier (Drude) absorption when tuned to an energy below the band gap. We find that the spin relaxation time, measured with picosecond time resolution by resonant induced Faraday rotation in both cases, increases in the presence of photogenerated holes.