This book from the highly successful series on amorphous-silicon science and devices reflects the increasing range of applications for a-Si technology. Advances in solar cells incorporating microcrystalline silicon absorber layers are discussed, and a new manufacturing facility for amorphous-silicon-based tandem solar cells is highlighted. Progress towards realizing both higher resolution and improved visibility in active-matrix liquid crystal displays is featured. And while work on raising the deposition rate for amorphous-silicon transistors is also outlined, it is expected that advances in devices and manufacturing will be accelerated when several fundamental puzzles regarding amorphous silicon's structure and optoelectronic properties are resolved. Topics include: solar cells; thin-film transistors and flat-panel displays; sensors, detectors and novel devices; device physics; deposition technologies; studies of growth processes; hydrogen and structure a-Si:H; defects and equilibration in a-Si:H; fundamental issues in defect processes; transport and recombination processes; thin films for photovoltaic and related device applications.

This book on the Laser Crystallization of Silicon reviews the latest experimental and theoretical studies in the field. It has been written by recognised global authorities and covers the most recent phenomena related to the laser crystallization process and the properties of the resulting polycrystalline silicon. Reflecting the truly interdisciplinary nature of the field that the series covers, this volume will continue to be of great interest to physicists, chemists, materials scientists and device engineers in modern industry. - Valuable applications for industry, particularly in the fabrication of thin-film electronics - Each chapter has been peer reviewed - An important and timely contribution to the semiconductor literature

Photovoltaic technology has now developed to the extent that it is close to fulfilling the vision of a "solar-energy world," as devices based on this technology are becoming efficient, low-cost and durable. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of thin-film silicon, a prevalent PV material, in terms of its semiconductor nature, startin

Today’s solar cell multi-GW market is dominated by crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer technology, however new cell concepts are entering the market. One very promising solar cell design to answer these needs is the silicon hetero-junction solar cell, of which the emitter and back surface field are basically produced by a low temperature growth of ultra-thin layers of amorphous silicon. In this design, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) constitutes both „emitter“ and „base-contact/back surface field“ on both sides of a thin crystalline silicon wafer-base (c-Si) where the electrons and holes are photogenerated; at the same time, a-Si:H passivates the c-Si surface. Recently, cell efficiencies above 23% have been demonstrated for such solar cells. In this book, the editors present an overview of the state-of-the-art in physics and technology of amorphous-crystalline heterostructure silicon solar cells. The heterojunction concept is introduced, processes and resulting properties of the materials used in the cell and their heterointerfaces are discussed and characterization techniques and simulation tools are presented.

Liquid crystals have emerged as a class of organic materials with potential applications to optics, photonics and optoelectronics. Although a large number of liquid crystals have been discovered or synthesized, fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships at the molecular level is still lacking. Regardless, liquid-crystalline materials have found use in many areas of technology and their scope has been extended with the development of liquid-crystalline polymers, elastomers and composite systems. In addition, emerging advanced technologies, such as flat-panel displays, optical computing and communications, and imaging will call for improved materials as well as novel multifunctional materials. This book presents recent advances in both the fundamental science and application-specific research of LC technology. New synthetic approaches are featured, as are developments in novel glass forming, low-molecular-weight liquid crystals and their utility in both display and optical applications. Topics include: PDLC composites; display and optical applications of LC-based compounds; modelling; rheology; chiral smectics and thermosets.