Under irradiation with microscale light beams, polymer–nanoparticle formulations undergo intensity-dependent evolution into either phase separated (core–shell) or homogenous (embedded) morphologies.
Microfiber optic array structures are fabricated and employed as an optical structure overlaying a frontcontact silicon solar cell. The arrays are synthesized through light-induced self-writing in a photo-crosslinking acrylate resin, which produces periodically spaced, high-aspect-ratio, and vertically aligned tapered microfibers deposited on a transparent substrate. The structure is then positioned over and sealed onto the solar cell surface. Their fiber optic properties enable collection of non-normal incident light, allowing the structure to mitigate shading loss through the redirection of incident light away from contacts and toward the solar cell. Angle-averaged external quantum efficiency increases nominally by 1.61%, resulting in increases in shortcircuit current density up to 1.13 mA/cm 2 . This work demonstrates a new approach to enhance light collection and conversion using a scalable, straightforward, light-based additive manufacturing process.
Fabrication of superhydrophobic
materials using incumbent techniques
involves several processing steps and is therefore either quite complex,
not scalable, or often both. Here, the development of superhydrophobic
surface-patterned polymer–TiO
2
composite materials
using a simple, single-step photopolymerization-based approach is
reported. The synergistic combination of concurrent, periodic bump-like
pattern formation created using irradiation through a photomask and
photopolymerization-induced nanoparticle (NP) phase separation enables
the development of surface textures with dual-scale roughness (micrometer-sized
bumps and NPs) that demonstrate high water contact angles, low roll-off
angles, and desirable postprocessability such as flexibility, peel-and-stick
capability, and self-cleaning capability. The effect of nanoparticle
concentration on surface porosity and consequently nonwetting properties
is discussed. Large-area fabrication over an area of 20 cm
2
, which is important for practical applications, is also demonstrated.
This work demonstrates the capability of polymerizable systems to
aid in the organization of functional polymer–nanoparticle
surface structures.
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