The properties of a metal-polymer contact have been investigated using photoinjection of electrons from the metal into the PET. Contact barrier heights were determined from the Fowler's plot of photo-injection currents in PET. The barrier heights for Cu-PET and Al-PET were 2.90 and 2.83 eV respectively; however, the workfunctions of Cu and Al were 4.54 and 3.44 eV respectively. The difference in the barrier height between Cu and Al (0.07 eV) is much smaller than that in the workfunction (1.1 eV). This indicates the existence of surface states on PET. From a simplified contact model with a uniform density of surface states Ns, the value of the Ns was estimated as 1.7*1014 cm-3 eV-1. The barrier height was strongly affected by atmospheric conditions. O2 molecules adsorbed on PET can act as electron traps, i.e. surface states, because of their large electron affinity.

A sensitive technique for measurement of lateral dimension of the ultrathin polymeric films is developed. By comparing width profiles at various loads, the lateral and longitudinal strains were obtained, and were used to get the Poisson’s ratio. Lateral dimensional changes at a very light load and a range of temperatures and relative humidities were used to measure coefficients of thermal and hygroscopic expansion. The Poisson’s ratio of standard polyethelene terephthalate (PET), tensilized PET, standard polyethelene terephthalate (PEN), tensilized PEN and supertensilized PEN were measured at 25 °C/15%RH, 25 °C/50%RH, 25 °C/80%RH, and 40 °C/50%RH. The data range from 0.29 to 0.47. It is found that tensilized films have a higher Poisson’s ratio than balanced films. The effects of temperature and humidity on the Poisson’s ratio are related to the materials’ molecular structure. An increase in temperature generally increases the Poisson’s ratio for the polymeric films. When relative humidity increases, the Poisson’s ratio of balanced films increases, while those of tensilized films remains constant or decreases slightly. The Poisson’s ratio is also affected by the stress magnitude that is used in the measurement; high stress usually results in a high Poisson’s ratio. By simultaneous loading and calibration, long term lateral dimensional deformation behavior of these films was studied. The results are consistent with the reported data measured by standard techniques.

Mechanisms of photocarrier generation in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been investigated. In the wavelength range of λ ≦320 nm, the photocurrent spectra correspond closely with the optical absorption spectra of PET and the assignment of the absorption peaks revealed that photocarriers are generated through ππ* excitations. In the wavelength range from 320 to 400 nm, photocarriers are injected from metal electrodes. The threshold energies for Al and Cu electrodes are 2.87 and 2.94 eV, respectively, indicating the presence of surface states. The simplified model gives the density of the surface states as 1.7 × 1014 cm−2 eV−1.

A simple method for fabricating vertically stacked single-crystal silicon nanowires on standard bulk silicon wafers is presented. The process uses inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching to create silicon fins with uneven yet controllable vertical profiles. The fins are then thermally oxidized in a self-limiting process, and the narrow regions are completely consumed to create multiple nanowires vertically stacked on each other. It was found that the number of nanowires in the vertical stack depends on the number of ICP cycles. A mechanism for the formation of the nanowires is proposed and confirmed with numerical simulations.

We investigate a Superconducting Fault Current Limiting Cable (SFCLC), which is an HTS cable with fault current limiting function. From the viewpoint of the fault current limitation coordination in a power transmission system, it is necessary to investigate the interaction of current limiting functions between multiple SFCLCs introduced in the system. We constructed a numerical model to analyze electrical and thermal behaviors of SFCLC based on resistance generation characteristics of superconductors. In the model power system, two SFCLCs were connected in parallel and two fault points were assumed. We calculated the current limiting characteristics of each SFCLC in the model system, and evaluated the current limitation effect and temperature rise of SFCLCs on each fault point. Depending on the fault point, there are two types of substantial connection of SFCLCs, namely in series and in parallel during the fault. In the substantially parallel connection, each SFCLC operates as the case of single SFCLC introduction. In the substantially series connection, the current limiting effect is determined by SFCLC with the smaller critical current. These results imply that the efficiency and reliability of a power transmission system will be improved by the introduction of multiple SFCLCs, as well as the single SFCLC.