In this study, we focus on the relationship between potential-induced degradation (PID) and characteristics of antireflection coating (ARC) on crystalline silicon solar cells. We evaluated the PID of general industrial multicrystalline p-type silicon solar cell groups with various ARCs. The module, which has an ARC deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) using a hollow cathode, indicated high resistance to PID with maintained conventional refractive index (RI). This ARC had properties of high conductivity and low oxygen concentration. It has the potential to suppress PID on crystalline silicon solar cells with maintained conventional RI.
The antireflection coating (ARC) on crystalline silicon solar cells plays an important role in preventing potential-induced degradation (PID). In a previous work, we reported that the module, which has an ARC prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (PE-CVD) using a hollow cathode, indicated high resistance to PID with a constant conventional refractive index (RI). In this work, we report further investigation of the high-PID-resistant ARC. The results indicate that the high-PID resistant ARC had high conductivity, high Si-H bond density, and low N-H bond density. Furthermore, both higher PID resistance and higher conversion efficiency are achieved using an ARC of double or triple layers comprising stacked silicon nitride layers of different RI than those of a conventional single-layer ARC.
Seasonal changes in spermatogenesis of Japanese lesser horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus cornutus, captured in Aomori Prefecture (Japan) were examined by light microscopy. In March, the seminiferous tubules revealed almost no lumen. The seminiferous epithelium consisted of Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. The interstitium occupied a relatively large area. In June, the seminiferous tubules gradually increased in diameter. Lumen was clearly seen at the center of seminiferous tubules. Mitotic figures of spermatogonia and spermatocytes were occasionally recognized. Interstitium occupation was still abundant. In August, the diameter of seminiferous tubules maximized. The interstitium occupied only a small area. Active spermatogenesis was obvious at this time. Released spermatozoa were frequently observed within the expanded lumen. In October, although spermatogenesis was still active, the diameter of seminiferous tubules tended to decrease in size. In December, active spermatogenesis completely disappeared. The diameter of tubules greatly decreased. In most cases, the seminiferous epithelium contained only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. Thus, spermatogenesis in Japanese lesser horseshoe bats occurs from the middle or late summer to the middle autumn in Aomori Prefecture. In epididymal tracts, aggregated spermatozoa were recognized throughout the year. The cytoplasm of all Leydig cells in the interstitium was positive for 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase throughout the year.
Plating on engineering plastics is necessary as an alternative to metallic materials for weight reduction and design improvement. However, harmful chemical substances are involved in plastic plating processes. For this study, we specifically assessed polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) as a metal substitute material and examined low-vacuum Cu sputtering. Along with fatigue resistance, heat resistance, and electrical characteristics, PBT has particularly good water absorption resistance and therefore excellent dimensional stability. Because of these characteristics, PBT has attracted attention as a metal substitute material. Low-vacuum Cu sputter is excellent for metal deposition on a three-dimensional object because particles from the target are scattered in a low vacuum. For this study, we examined improvement of the adhesion of Cu sputter to PBT by applying oxygen plasma treatment as a sputter pretreatment.
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