Search Results (3)

Surface texturing is vital for enhancing light absorption and optimizing the optoelectronic properties of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) samples. Texturing significantly improves light absorption by minimizing reflectance and extending the effective path length of incident light. Furthermore, porous silicon treatment on textured mc-Si surfaces offers additional advantages, including enhanced carrier generation, reduced surface recombination, and improved light emission. In this study, a dual treatment combining porous silicon and texturing was employed as an effective approach to enhance the optical and optoelectronic properties of mc-Si. Both porous silicon and texturing were achieved through a chemical etching process. After these surface modifications, the morphology and structure of mc-Si were examined using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis-IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), WCT-120 photo-conductance lifetime measurements, and Two-Internal Quantum Efficiency (IQE) analysis. The results reveal a substantial improvement in the material’s properties. The total reflectivity dropped from 35% to approximately 5%, while the effective minority carrier lifetime increased from 2 µs for bare mc-Si to 36 µs after treatment. Additionally, the two-dimensional IQE value rose from 35% for the untreated sample to 66% after treatment, representing an enhancement of around 31%. These findings highlight the potential of surface engineering techniques in optimizing mc-Si for photovoltaic applications. Full article

This study introduced a novel two-step treatment to enhance the waterproofing, dimensional stability, and self-cleaning capabilities of ancient architectural wood. The process was initiated with the immersion of wood in an organic hybrid sol, composed of an acidic methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS)-based silica sol and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which effectively sealed the wood’s inherent pores and cracks to mitigate degradation effects caused by aging, fungi, and insects. Subsequently, the treated wood surface was modified with an alkaline MTMS-based silica sol to form a functional superhydrophobic protective layer. The modification effectiveness was meticulously analyzed using advanced characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results demonstrated substantial improvements: the modified wood’s water contact angle (WCA) reached 156.0°, and the sliding angle (SA) was 6.0°. Additionally, the modified wood showed a notable reduction in water uptake and moisture absorption, enhancing its dimensional stability. The superhydrophobic surface endowed the wood with excellent self-cleaning properties and robust resistance to pollution. Enhanced mechanical durability of superhydrophobic surface was observed under rigorous testing conditions, including sandpaper abrasion and tape peeling. Furthermore, the modification improved the thermal stability, compressive strength, and storage modulus of the wood. Collectively, these enhancements render this modification a potent methodology for the preservation and functional augmentation of historic architectural woodwork. Full article

The importance of cell membranes in biological systems has prompted the development of model membrane platforms that recapitulate fundamental aspects of membrane biology, especially the lipid bilayer environment. Tethered lipid bilayers represent one of the most promising classes of model membranes and are based on the immobilization of a planar lipid bilayer on a solid support that enables characterization by a wide range of surface-sensitive analytical techniques. Moreover, as the result of molecular engineering inspired by biology, tethered bilayers are increasingly able to mimic fundamental properties of natural cell membranes, including fluidity, electrical sealing and hosting transmembrane proteins. At the same time, new methods have been employed to improve the durability of tethered bilayers, with shelf-lives now reaching the order of weeks and months. Taken together, the capabilities of tethered lipid bilayers have opened the door to biotechnology applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring and energy storage. In this review, several examples of such applications are presented. Beyond the particulars of each example, the focus of this review is on the emerging design and characterization strategies that made these applications possible. By drawing connections between these strategies and promising research results, future opportunities for tethered lipid bilayers within the biotechnology field are discussed. Full article