Electrochemical corrosion effects can occur in thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules that are fabricated on tin-oxide-coated glass when operating at high voltages and at elevated temperatures in a humid climate. The current study shows that this corrosion is associated with a delamination of the tin oxide layer from the glass, which is caused by sodium accumulation near the interface between the tin oxide and the glass and by the ingression of moisture into the PV module from the edges. This corrosion in thin-film PV modules can be significantly reduced by altering the growth conditions of the tin oxide or by using zinc oxide as a transparent conductive oxide electrode.

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We studied the surface morphology and biocompatibility of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium (a-Si1-xGex:H) thin films prepared by Low Frequency Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (LF-PECVD). These films were deposited on a Corning 2947 glass substrate having a thickness of 3 μm, the electrical performance showed a decreased electrical resistance for low regime voltage. The root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of the films was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a non-contact mode. A biocompatibility tests was carried out using primary cultures of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of Wistar rats. The DRG neurons were incubated for 18 hours on a-Si1-xGex:H thin films, and subsequent electrophysiological recording was performed. These neurons displayed typical ionic currents, including a fast-inward current at the beginning of voltage clamp pulse (Na+ current) and ensuing outward currents (K+ current). In current clamp experiments, depolarizing current pulse injection caused typical action potential discharge of the neurons. These results confirmed the feasibility of using a-Si1-xGex:H thin films as a biocompatible material.

Electrochemical anodizing is one of the processes that due to its practicality, versatility, and excellent results has been used for decades for the oxidation of any metallic surface and the formation of nanostructures. In the present work was anodized commercially pure titanium using a solution based on hydrochloric acid, ethylene glycol, and deionized water. Varying the voltage from 21 to 24 volts was observed the formation of tube-shaped nanostructures in the anodized samples like a characteristic growth due to the use of HCl in the solution. Using Raman spectroscopy were identified the vibrational modes corresponding to the anatase phase. Using Vickers Microhardness and Nanoindentation it was demonstrated that the mechanical behavior was favored in the sample obtained with 24 Volts and growth time of 60 minutes. Finally, the TiO2 layers obtained improved the friction coefficient value of the titanium sheet, reducing its value from 0.8 to 0.4.

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