Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: Four Important Books You Need to Read (Not Just Say You Have)
The Marketing Minute: Cracking the Code of Technical Marketing
Using Solid-state Materials with Gold Nanoantennas for More Durable Solar Cells
May 27, 2016 | Hokkaido UniversityEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Scientists at Hokkaido University in Japan are making headway in the fabrication of all-solid-state solar cells that are highly durable and can efficiently convert sunlight into energy. The team employed a method called “atomic layer deposition”, which allows scientists to control the deposit of very thin, uniform layers of materials on top of each other. Using this method, they deposited a thin film of nickel oxide onto a single crystal of titanium dioxide. Gold nanoparticles were introduced between the two layers to act like an antenna that harvests visible light.
The team tested the properties of these fabricated devices with and without an intermediary step following the deposition of nickel oxide that involves heating it to very high temperatures and then allowing it to slowly cool – a process called “annealing”.
Photocurrent generation was successfully observed on the all-solid-state photoelectric conversion device. The device was found to be highly durable and stable because, unlike some solar cells, it does not contain organic components, which have a tendency to degrade over time and under harsh conditions.
The researchers also found that annealing affected the properties of the device by changing the interfacial structure of the layers. For example, it increased the voltage available from the device but also increased the resistance within it. It also decreased the device’s efficiency in converting light to electricity. The results suggest that the structural changes caused by annealing prevent the layer of gold nanoparticles from injecting electrons into the titanium dioxide layer.
The team’s fabrication process is inexpensive and can be scaled up easily but the resultant device’s properties are still insufficient for practical use and its efficiency in converting light to energy needs to be improved. Further research is needed to understand the roles of each layer in conducting energy to improve the device’s efficiency.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Transforming the Industry: Advint's Mission in Metallization
09/18/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineWith three decades of experience in engineering, research, and operations in blue-chip organizations, including Boeing and Honeywell, Venkat Raja has developed a passion for electroplating. In 2018, he founded Advint Incorporated, an electroplating advisory and training services firm dedicated to solving operational challenges, enhancing efficiency, and providing specialized training programs.
Alternative Manufacturing, Inc. (AMI) Announces Commitment to Excellence in Industrial, Defense, Aerospace, Renewables, and Robotics Markets
09/16/2025 | Alternative Manufacturing, Inc.Alternative Manufacturing, Inc. (AMI), a 100% employee-owned contract manufacturer, proudly reaffirms its leadership in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry with a continued commitment to delivering high-quality PCBAs and box builds across the industrial, defense, aerospace, renewable energy, and robotics markets.
Advint Incorporated Brings Artificial Intelligence to Electroplating Training
09/11/2025 | Advint IncorporatedAdvint Incorporated is introducing a new dimension to its electroplating training programs: the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to providing PCB fabricators and manufacturers in the USA and Canada with training that is practical, forward-looking, and directly relevant to today’s production challenges.
Elementary Mr. Watson: Running the Signal Gauntlet
09/11/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonIf you’ve ever run a military obstacle course, you know it’s less “fun fitness challenge” and more “how can we inflict as much pain in the shortest time possible?” You start fresh—chest out, lungs full of confidence, thinking you might even look good doing this—and 10 seconds later, you’re questioning all your life choices.
It's Only Common Sense: The Evolution of Prospecting
09/08/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseCold calling isn’t dead. I don’t care what the LinkedIn gurus or the TikTok “sales coaches” say. Picking up the phone and talking to another human being is still one of the fastest ways to grow your business. But (and it’s a big but), cold calling is different now. The world and buyers have changed. You can’t smile-and-dial like it’s 1987, reading the same tired script, hoping the gatekeeper is too bored to block you. If you’re still cold calling the old way—no research, relationship, or relevance—you’re showing up to a gunfight with a butter knife.