In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope
Areal roughness parameters always need to be under control in the thin film solar cell industry because of their close relationship with the electrical efficiency of the cells. In this work, these parameters are evaluated for measurements carried out in a typical fabrication area for this industry....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2010-04-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/10/4/4002/ |
| _version_ | 1811278104305336320 |
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| author | Higinio González-Jorge Victor Alvarez-Valado Jose Luis Valencia Soledad Torres |
| author_facet | Higinio González-Jorge Victor Alvarez-Valado Jose Luis Valencia Soledad Torres |
| author_sort | Higinio González-Jorge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Areal roughness parameters always need to be under control in the thin film solar cell industry because of their close relationship with the electrical efficiency of the cells. In this work, these parameters are evaluated for measurements carried out in a typical fabrication area for this industry. Measurements are made using a portable atomic force microscope on the CNC diamond cutting machine where an initial sample of transparent conductive oxide is cut into four pieces. The method is validated by making a comparison between the parameters obtained in this process and in the laboratory under optimal conditions. Areal roughness parameters and Fourier Spectral Analysis of the data show good compatibility and open the possibility to use this type of measurement instrument to perform in situ quality control. This procedure gives a sample for evaluation without destroying any of the transparent conductive oxide; in this way 100% of the production can be tested, so improving the measurement time and rate of production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:29:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44e17262c83d4f7ea18b22403c870eff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:29:51Z |
| publishDate | 2010-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-44e17262c83d4f7ea18b22403c870eff2022-12-22T03:10:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202010-04-011044002400910.3390/s100404002In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force MicroscopeHiginio González-JorgeVictor Alvarez-ValadoJose Luis ValenciaSoledad TorresAreal roughness parameters always need to be under control in the thin film solar cell industry because of their close relationship with the electrical efficiency of the cells. In this work, these parameters are evaluated for measurements carried out in a typical fabrication area for this industry. Measurements are made using a portable atomic force microscope on the CNC diamond cutting machine where an initial sample of transparent conductive oxide is cut into four pieces. The method is validated by making a comparison between the parameters obtained in this process and in the laboratory under optimal conditions. Areal roughness parameters and Fourier Spectral Analysis of the data show good compatibility and open the possibility to use this type of measurement instrument to perform in situ quality control. This procedure gives a sample for evaluation without destroying any of the transparent conductive oxide; in this way 100% of the production can be tested, so improving the measurement time and rate of production.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/10/4/4002/surface metrologyatomic force microscopysolar celltransparent conductive oxideareal roughness |
| spellingShingle | Higinio González-Jorge Victor Alvarez-Valado Jose Luis Valencia Soledad Torres In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope Sensors surface metrology atomic force microscopy solar cell transparent conductive oxide areal roughness |
| title | In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope |
| title_full | In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope |
| title_fullStr | In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope |
| title_short | In Situ Roughness Measurements for the Solar Cell Industry Using an Atomic Force Microscope |
| title_sort | in situ roughness measurements for the solar cell industry using an atomic force microscope |
| topic | surface metrology atomic force microscopy solar cell transparent conductive oxide areal roughness |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/10/4/4002/ |
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