Meeting challenges in nanomaterials for sustainable energy applications using high-resolution positron methods

• Published in: Physica status solidi. C Vol. 6; no. 11; pp. 2561 - 2565
• Main Author: Eijt, S. W. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.11.2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: 61.46.Df; 71.60.+z; 73.22.−f; 78.70.Bj; 84.60.Jt; Electronics; Heating; Hydrogen storage; Nanocrystals; Positrons; Reproduction; Semiconductors; Thin films
• ISSN: 1862-6351; 1610-1642; 1610-1642
• DOI: 10.1002/pssc.200982146

Positron methods are promising as in‐situ depth‐resolved probes for the study of the (electronic) structure of semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in active thin layers of future generation solar cells, and of metal hydride thin films with applications as hydrogen sensors and hydrogen switchable mirrors. The (time‐resolved) evolution of the positron‐electron momentum distribution is presented, associated with two sintering steps observed upon heating pyridine‐capped CdSe nanocrystal films in a vacuum. The metal‐to‐insulator transition upon hydrogenation of Mg and Mg2Ni thin films to MgH2 and Mg2NiH4 leads to a clear broadening of the electron momentum distribution, and a strong decrease in the lineshape parameter S. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)