Interlayer Film Research Articles

An innovative Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensor to monitor earthquake induced void redistribution in layered soils

Liquefaction induced soil void redistribution, i.e., the formation of thin water film between soil layers, has been identified as an important trigger of ground liquefaction occurring in stratified soils with embedded low permeability layer. Conventional liquefaction assessment of soils are conducted on uniform soil samples, which do not capture the liquefaction due to void redistribution and therefore, potentially underestimate the liquefaction occurring in the field conditions. The void redistribution, however, has not been directly validated due to lack of experimental tools for such measurements. This paper presents an innovative high resolution Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensing system to directly quantify the development of thin water film in layered soils. A new spiral TDR sensor is designed and fabricated with the assistance of 3-D printing technology. A spiral sensor design is proposed to achieves high spatial resolution and sensitivity in detecting thin water film. The new spiral sensor is applied to monitor the dynamic evolvement of water film under static and dynamic conditions. In the static tests, water films with different thickness are generated between two saturated sand layers using special experimental setup. The testing results indicate that the spiral TDR waveguide has capability to detect water film as thin as 1 mm. In the dynamic experiments, the onset and evolution of interlayer water film is produced in stratified soil profile with shaking table excitation. It includes TDR system with fast signal acquisition. An algorithm is developed to analyze TDR signals to determine the thickness of water film based on the dielectric mixing model for soil-water mixture. The thickness of interlayer water film by analyzing recorded TDR signal agree reasonably well with the results of direct physical measurements. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of an innovative TDR sensor to provide real time monitoring of water film developed in layered soils subjected to seismic ground shaking, and therefore provide a tool to generate important insight on ground liquefaction triggered by void redistribution along low permeability layers.

Effect of SiCN thin film interlayer for ZnO-based RRAM.

This study investigates the effect of silicon carbon nitride (SiCN) as an interlayer for ZnO-based resistive random access memory (RRAM). SiCN was deposited using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with controlled carbon content, achieved by varying the partial pressure of tetramethylsilane (4MS). Our results indicate that increasing the carbon concentration enhances the endurance of RRAM devices but reduces the on/off ratio. Devices with SiCN exhibited lower operating voltages and more uniform resistive switching behavior. Oxygen migration from ZnO to SiCN is examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, promoting the formation of conductive filaments (CFs) and lowering set voltages. Additionally, we examined the impact of top electrode oxidation on RRAM performance. The oxidation of the Ti top electrode was found to reduce endurance and increase low resistive state (LRS) resistance, potentially leading to device failure through the formation of an insulating layer between the electrode and resistive switching material. The oxygen storage capability of SiCN was further confirmed through high-temperature stress tests, demonstrating its potential as an oxygen reservoir. Devices with a 20 nm SiCN interlayer showed significantly improved endurance, with over 500 switching cycles, compared to 62 cycles in those with a 5 nm SiCN layer. However, the thicker SiCN layer resulted in a notably lower on/off ratio due to reduced capacitance. These findings suggest that SiCN interlayers can effectively enhance the performance and endurance of ZnO-based RRAM devices by acting as an oxygen reservoir and mitigating the top electrode oxidation effect.

Effects of Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide loading on thermal, mechanical and ion conducting properties of specialty interlayer films derived from scrap Polyvinyl butyral

This work investigates the feasibility of using scrap poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) film derived from laminated glass factories as an ion-conductive interlayer film for producing electrochromic glass. The process uses PVB films made from masterbatches containing 10 to 60 wt% lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). The investigation focused on how LiTFSI loading affected both the PVB masterbatches and the final PVB films. Higher LiTFSI loading correlated with increased ionic conductivity. The best electrochromic devices are obtained when the PVB films are directly prepared from the masterbatch without additional PVB flakes dilution during extrusion. The highest ionic conductivity 2.72 × 10−4 S/cm, is achieved from a masterbatch containing neat PVB and scrap PVB flakes with 60 wt% LiTFSI. Additionally, LiTFSI acted as a plasticizer for PVB, lowering the glass transition temperature and increasing the PVB film percent elongation.

A New Design Strategy Enables High Mn‐Utilization Rate in Aqueous Zinc–Manganese Batteries: Constructing Cathodic Local Mn‐Rich Region

AbstractThe deposition–dissolution mechanism with a two‐electron transfer reaction endows aqueous Zn–Mn batteries with a desirable theoretical energy density. However, due to the limited solubility of traditional manganese‐based materials and the competitive Mn shuttle behavior, the practical performance is unsatisfactory. Herein, by synergistically incorporating a novel Mn‐rich Mn4N cathode with a plasma functionalized carbon nanotubes film (PCNT) interlayer, an aqueous Zn–Mn battery with a high Mn‐utilization rate and high energy/power density is successfully developed. Specifically, the Mn4N cathode boasts high manganese content and dissolution activity, thereby offering a copious supply of Mn2+ ions for the battery system. The PCNT interlayer, with abundant micropore structures and functional groups, not only restrains the Mn2+ shuttle by entrapping the dissolved Mn2+ but also offers copious reaction sites, ensuring concentrating Mn2+ on the cathodic side and maximizing their contribution to the electrochemical reaction. Consequently, Mn4N‐PCNT exhibits a low polarization voltage and superior Mn‐utilization rate (64.8%). Without the MnSO4 additive, Mn4N‐PCNT achieves an ultra‐high energy density of 821.9 W h kg−1 and remarkable long‐term cycling stability (90% capacity retention over 9000 cycles). The delightful results demonstrate the practical application potential of Mn4N‐PCNT and open up new avenues for the rational design of advanced Zn–Mn batteries.

Tailoring ohmic contact of CdZnTe based device using a ZnTe:Cu film interlayer

ZnTe materials exhibit distinctive characteristics that render them exceptionally suitable for the utilization in circumventing the electrode contact issue for the CdZnTe based devices for photoelectric applications. This work employed the co-sputtering technique to fabricate ZnTe:Cu films, probing the influences of Copper (Cu) sputtering power on the film's structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties. It is disclosed that the sputtering power of the Cu target leads to a proportional increase in CuxTe compounds within the ZnTe:Cu films. Notably, an increase in the sputtering power of the Cu target is found to enhance the carrier concentration of the film, but not decrease the resistivity. This unnormal arose is due to a substantial reduction in carrier mobility at higher Cu target sputtering powers. The ZnTe:Cu film exhibits relatively lower resistivity when the sputtering power of the Cu target is approximately 3 W. The optimized ZnTe:Cu film as a buffer layer for the electrode is favor of remarkable improving the ohmic contact properties between the electrode and the CdZnTe, exhibiting a low contact resistivity of 0.62 Ω cm2. This work offers a promising approach to ameliorate the contact performance for the CdZnTe devices with high performance and high reliability.

High-quality multi-walled carbon nanotubes toughened glass-ceramic by a two-dimension carbon nanotube film interlayer

The brittleness of bioglass/ceramics limits their applications in bone repair. The toughness of the glass matrix can be enhanced by adding nanoscale reinforcements at random; however, the effect is quite limited. This study proposes a novel strategy to prepare controllable fabricating lamellar precursors with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film/glass/MWCNTs film sandwich structure by a high-temperature foaming method. Subsequently, the precursor was sintered by spark plasma to obtain a composite material with strong cross-linking between MWCNTs and the glass matrix. The mechanical properties of the composites were characterized, and mechanisms were analyzed by the finite element method. The results revealed that the glass composite with 1.0 wt% MWCNTs had a significantly enhanced fracture toughness (2.65 MPa m1/2) and flexural strength (145 MPa), which were 2.1 times and 1.8 times higher than those of pure glass, respectively. This increase in toughness is attributed to the strong resistance of the well-combined bent and entangled MWCNTs to the fiber pull-out process. The glass/MWCNTs composite showed a low electrical resistivity of 5.8 Ω cm, which would aid skeletal restoration. Thus, this strategy paves a facile way to prepare the highly toughed bio-glass with multifunctional properties.

The effectiveness of S-LEC™ solar control film L in laminated glass for reducing the burning sensation caused by near-infrared radiation.

The aim of this study was to examine the potential for S-LEC™ Solar Control Film L, a heat insulating interlayer film for laminated glass developed by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., to reduce the burning sensation caused by near infrared (NIR) radiation. A crossover study was performed in 49 male and female subjects, using three different combinations of laminated glass with interlayer films. Subjects placed their right hand under each glass in an NIR irradiation device. The dorsal side of the right hand was irradiated with NIR for 30 s and the onset and degree of a burning sensation was measured. Laminated glass with S-LEC™ Solar Control Film L reduced the burning sensation caused by NIR and delayed the onset of the sensation, compared with the control glasses. The use of S-LEC™ Solar Control Film L in the laminated glass of vehicles may improve passenger comfort and prevent skin disorders such as photoaging caused by prolonged exposure to NIR.

Nanoscale friction at the quartz-quartz/kaolinite interface

The nanoscale friction behavior of quartz-quartz and quartz-kaolinite interfaces is investigated through Steered Molecular Dynamics (SMD) simulations. The effects of normal load, sliding velocity, temperature, and hydration on the friction behavior are discussed, and the friction mechanism of quartz and quartz/kaolinite interface is revealed. The friction coefficients of all systems at different cases are obtained and compared with other experimental results for validation. The simulation results show that the stick-slip effect in all interfaces was found during the friction process, where the higher the sliding velocity and hydration, or the lower the normal load, the weaker the stick-slip effect. The friction load increased with the rising normal load, and the relationship between shear stress and normal load was approximately linear. The friction coefficient and cohesion of the quartz-quartz interface could rise with the increasing sliding velocity or the decreasing temperature. Moreover, the friction coefficient of quartz-kaolinite was significantly smaller than that of quartz-quartz, indicating that the presence of clay could weaken the frictional strength of quartz. The effect of the interlayer water film on friction behavior was rather complex, showing the lubricating or bonding role, which has been discussed and analyzed in the present study.

Direct bonding of Ni nanoparticles to a semiconductor Al electrode in air and its form

This research group evaluated the bondability of sinter bonding using Ni nanoparticles, which have a high melting point and excellent corrosion resistance, as a new metal nanoparticle bonding material, and found that bonding is possible at bonding temperatures below 400 °C when the particle size is less than 100 nm. Furthermore it was found that Ni nanoparticles can be directly bonded to Al, which is considered difficult to bond directly with solder materials containing tin (Sn) or lead (Pb), and that high bonding strength can be obtained. In addition, the bonding strength of Ni nanoparticles to Al was higher when bonded in air than in a reduction atmosphere of N2+H2 (3%), indicating that there were differences in bonding properties depending on the bonding atmosphere. In this study, we compared the bonding properties to Al in different bonding atmospheres. In the N2+H2 (3%) reducing atmosphere, the bonding strength was not increased even when the bonding temperature was increased. On the other hand, the bonding strength was significantly increased with increasing bonding temperature over 330 °C in air. The failure mode was also rupture in the bonding layer, and good bonding was achieved at the Ni/Al bonding interface. Observation of the bonding interface between Ni nanoparticles and Al using Transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed the presence of an interlayer of oxide film at both bonding interfaces in air and in the N2+H2 (3%) reduction atmosphere. And the oxide layer at the interface bonded in air was thicker, indicating that the structure at the interface between the Ni layer, the oxide layer and the Al layer has changed. It was suggested that the difference in oxide film formation behavior, structure, and thickness affects the bondability due to the difference in the bonding atmosphere.

Effect of modified MgAl-LDH coating on corrosion resistance and friction properties of aluminum alloy

The in-situ growing approach was utilized in this article to construct the magnesium–aluminum layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) film on the surface of a 1060 aluminum anodized film. To improve the corrosion resistance and friction qualities of aluminum alloy, the MgAl-LDH coating was treated using stearic acid (SA) and thiourea (TU). The aluminum substrate and anodized aluminum film layer corroded to varying degrees after 24 h of immersion in 3.5% (mass) NaCl solution, while the modified hydrotalcite film layer continued to exhibit the same microscopic morphology even after being immersed for 7 d. The results show that the synergistic action of thiourea and stearic acid can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the MgAl-LDH substrate. The tribological testing reveals that the hydrotalcite film layer and the modified film layer lowered the friction coefficient of the anodized aluminum surface substantially. The results of the simulations and experiments demonstrate that SA forms the dense LDH-TU interlayer film layer by exchanging NO3– ions between TU layers on the one hand and the LDH-SA film layer by adsorption on the surface of LDH on the other. Together, these two processes create LDH-TU-SA, which can significantly increase the substrate's corrosion resistance. This synergistically modified superhydrophobic and retardant hydrotalcite film layer offers a novel approach to the investigation of wear reduction and corrosion protection on the surface of aluminum and its alloys.

A morphology control engineered strategy of Ti3C2Tx/sulfated cellulose nanofibril composite film towards high-performance flexible supercapacitor electrode

2D Ti3C2Tx MXene is an ideal material for fabricating supercapacitor electrodes due to its excellent physical-chemical properties. However, the inherent self-stacking, narrow interlayer spacing, and low general mechanical strength limit its application in flexible supercapacitors. Herein, facile structural engineering strategies by drying (vacuum drying, freeze drying, and spin drying) were proposed to fabricate 3D high-performance Ti3C2Tx/sulfated cellulose nanofibril (SCNF) self-supporting film supercapacitor electrodes. Compared with other composite films, the freeze-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film exhibited a looser interlayer structure with more space which was conducive to charge storage and ion transport in the electrolyte. Therefore, the freeze-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film exhibited a higher specific capacitance (220 F/g) compared to the vacuum-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film (191 F/g) and the spin-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film (211 F/g). After 5000 cycles, the capacitance retention rate of the freeze-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF film electrode was close to 100 %, showing excellent cycle performance. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of freeze-dried Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film (13.7 MPa) was much greater than that of the pure film (7.4 MPa). This work demonstrated a facile strategy for control of Ti3C2Tx/SCNF composite film interlayer structure by drying for fabricating well-designed structured flexible and free-standing supercapacitor electrodes.

Towards sustainable transparent flexible heaters: Integration of a BNNT interlayer using green solvent substitution

Processing materials in electronics with non-toxic, green solvents can provide environmental benefits while reducing manufacturing health and safety challenges. Unfortunately, green solvents are often unable to provide comparable solubilizing characteristics and present challenges in printing and film formation compared to conventional organic solvents. Therefore, green materials are often developed in parallel to their processing method for successful implementation. In this study, we report on the use of a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and ethanol solution as a replacement for poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and chloroform and its’ first demonstration in boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) thin film interlayers for improved thermal and mechanical performance in silver microgrid transparent heaters. Using PVB/ethanol led to comparable thin films of BNNT, achieving a clear tube network formation across the substrate surface and resulting in near identical optical transparency and surface energy measurements compared to the P3HT/chloroform system. Silver microgrids printed on BNNT-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with PVB as dispersant exhibited a similar conductive performance to the microgrids printed on BNNT-coated PET with P3HT, providing the same level of mechanical endurance and maintaining thermal performance metrics upon applied voltage. The PVB and ethanol system presents an exemplary green material combination for the novel deposition of BNNT thin film interlayers for integration into transparent heaters.

Photochromic safety-glass based on polyurethane interlayer film blend with perovskite quantum dot

In recent years, photochromic glass has been widely used in smart windows, depending on its thermal insulation, concealment and intelligent controllability. However, the safety requirements of photochromic glass are still one of the problems to be solved in practical applications. In this work, a photochromic composite film based on polyurethane/perovskite quantum dots (HPU) has been got by casting blending extrusion process. Then laminated safety glass based on the HPU intermediate films are constructed by hot pressing process, the glass of which shall be coated with a layer of acrylate hot-melt adhesive (PA) before use. Under ultraviolet light, it can be displayed in green from colorless within 0.5 s, and transmittance of laminated glass is almost the same as that of single-layer glass under natural light. The safety of laminated glass based on the glass/PA/HPU/PA/glass structure is evaluated by falling ball impact test. There are no glass fragments falling off and splashing when they are impacted by a 50 g of steel ball falling freely from a height of 1 m. The excellent environmental stabilities have been confirmed by fluorescence spectrum tracking. The intelligent photochromic safety-glass mentioned in this work has great application potential in the fields of building windows, automotives and optical devices.

Modeling of heating and cooling behaviors of laminated glass facades exposed to fire with three-dimensional flexibilities

To develop a precise and efficient computer model for predicting the heating and cooling behaviors of laminated glass facades exposed to fire, there is an urgent need to reduce the huge computational requirements associated with simulating heat transfer in layered structures that feature a down-flowing water film. We overcome this challenge by proposing an efficient three-dimensional finite difference method (3DFDM) which has high numerical stability when solving heat transfer equations with water film and air convection. To capture the moving particles of the water film, we developed a unique computational algorithm for particle labeling, which has two significant advantages: (1) it eliminates the time-consuming process of searching for neighboring particles in conventional meshfree methods, and (2) it ensures that every main particle interacts only with limited neighboring particles without utilizing any weights, thus significantly reducing the computational effort. We validated our 3DFDM through experiments in heating and cooling scenarios and compared its thermal results with those obtained from commercial packages to demonstrate its high efficiency and accuracy. Furthermore, we examined the feasibility of our model in evaluating the effects of thickness of the interlayer and water film release time on the cooling behavior of laminated glass during a fire.

Strain-Induced Modification of Photoluminescence in Quasi-2D Perovskite Thin Films

Quasi-2D perovskites are recognized as a promising material for lightweight photovoltaic applications. For these applications, it is critical to understand how mechanical stresses affect the perovskite’s optoelectronic properties. Here, we discuss how applied stress impacts the photoluminescence spectrum and lifetime of quasi-2D perovskite thin films and how these effects depend on interlayer cation choice (butylammonium or phenethylammonium) and film processing (hot-casting versus postdeposition annealing). We find that compressive stress induces an enhancement and spectral redshift (>10 meV per percent strain) in the emission from bulk-like grains in the film. Moreover, the charge carrier recombination lifetime is greatly enhanced (up to a factor of 14 with only 1% strain). We show that the phenethylammonium-based perovskites are more robust against strain-induced modifications compared to those containing the butylammonium cation. These results highlight how strongly strain can modify the optoelectronic properties of quasi-2D perovskite thin films and how cation choice and film processing can have important practical implications for developing lightweight photovoltaics.

The mix-mode fracture behaviour of aerospace composite joints co-cured by different forms of advanced thermoplastics

The co-cure joining of thermoset composites by thermoplastics is an advanced approach to develop robust composite joints. Herein, Polyethylenimine (PEI) and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymers in a form of film, woven mesh, hollow mesh and carbon fibre reinforced plastic were utilised as interlayers for the co-cure joining of an aerospace composite. A cracked-lap shear test was used to investigate the fracture toughness and mechanisms of the co-cured composite joints under a mixed mode-I/II loading condition. The experimental results revealed that the insert of PEI and PEEK interlayers significantly enhanced the mix-mode crack resistance of the composite joints by different levels. The most remarkable increase in the crack initiation energy and crack propagation energy was 161% and 613%, respectively, that were obtained by adding the PEEK film interlayers. The main toughening mechanisms of the PEI film joined composites were crack-pining and matrix toughening of the PEI particles, which were formed by the diffusion of the PEI resins into the composite epoxy matrix during the curing process. Plastic deformation and fracture of the PEEK resins were the main toughening mechanisms of the composites that were co-cure joined by the PEEK films, woven meshes, hollow meshes and carbon fibre reinforced tapes. The crack resistance of the composite joints correlated well with the level of the PEEK fracture phenomena during the mix-mode fracture process.

Direct bonding of Ni nanoparticles to a semiconductor Al electrode in air and its form

This research group evaluated the bondability of sinter bonding using Ni nanoparticles, which have a high melting point and excellent corrosion resistance, as a new metal nanoparticle bonding material, and found that bonding is possible at bonding temperatures below 400 °C when the particle size is less than 100 nm. Furthermore it was found that Ni nanoparticles can be directly bonded to Al, which is considered difficult to bond directly with solder materials containing tin (Sn) or lead (Pb), and that high bonding strength can be obtained. In addition, the bonding strength of Ni nanoparticles to Al was higher when bonded in air than in a reduction atmosphere of N2+H2 (3 %), indicating that there were differences in bonding properties depending on the bonding atmosphere. In this study, we compared the bonding properties to Al in different bonding atmospheres. In the N2+H2 (3 %) reducing atmosphere, the bonding strength was not increased even when the bonding temperature was increased. On the other hand, the bonding strength was significantly increased with increasing bonding temperature over 330 °C in air. The failure mode was also rupture in the bonding layer, and good bonding was achieved at the Ni/Al bonding interface. Observation of the bonding interface between Ni nanoparticles and Al using Transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed the presence of an interlayer of oxide film at both bonding interfaces in air and in the N2+H2 (3 %) reduction atmosphere. And the oxide layer at the interface bonded in air was thicker, indicating that the structure at the interface between the Ni layer, the oxide layer and the Al layer has changed. It was suggested that the difference in oxide film formation behavior, structure, and thickness affects the bondability due to the difference in the bonding atmosphere.

Enhancing sound insulation of glass interlayer films by introducing piezoelectric fibers

Enhancing the sound insulation of glass interlayer film by introducing piezoelectric fibers.

A Light Shield Temperature Sensor for a Display Backplane

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display are operated by voltage or current driving. Several types of Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) are used in the backplane of a display, LTPS and a-IGZO TFTs are those. As the applied voltage increases to increase the brightness of the display, heat generation also increases at the channel of the TFT. Such heat generation increase the temperature, which degrades the characteristics of the TFT, and decrease the lifetime of the organic device. Therefore, in order to keep the quality of the display, it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the display and control related signals to implement optimal image quality. There are various temperature sensors which can be used to detect such a temperature change in a display. In the case of using a discrete temperature sensor, the process and cost are increased by attaching the temperature sensor additionally. However, in the case of a temperature sensor integrated into the display, an process for the temperature sensor is not necessary. One way to integrate is using resistance changing material with a reference resistor outside. In this case, temperature accuracy can be reduced when the reference resistance changes due to the influence of the external temperature. To solve the problem, external reference resistance is removed in this proposed sensor scheme. Figure 1 shows the developed thin-film temperature sensor, which consists of two wires connected in series. The temperature coefficients of Molybdenum (Mo) and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) are different from each other, and that of ITO is about 1.2 times or more than that of Mo. In this scheme, no external resistance is required. In addition, to reduce the process steps, a thin film temperature sensor is designed to replace a light shield layer which is formed at the bottom of the active layer to prevent the input of light. The two thin film materials are connected in series and the voltages at a connecting point are measured. The generated heat transferred to the temperature sensor was tested for repeatability and accuracy. The thin-film temperature sensor was designed to be located at the bottom of a-IGZO Top Gate TFT structure to check the heating during the operation of TFT. an interlayer insulation film was deposited on the temperature sensor before deposition of the active layer. The temperature of the TFT was measured by a temperature sensor Figure 1. shows the schematic cross-sectional structure of the developed oxide TFT with an integrated temperature sensor. Figure 1

(Digital Presentation) Electrodeposition and Characterization of a Selective Coating on Aluminum for Scale-up in Thermo-Solar Applications

Flat-plate solar collector systems are devices used to convert solar energy to thermal energy. These devices require a selective coating that absorbs all sunlight but does not emit energy in the near IR; hence, a multilayer system of metal/IR-reflector/metal oxide is often used. Many substrates are used, including metals such as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum. Aluminum is an interesting substrate for its lower cost and good optical properties. Electrodeposited materials have gained importance in the industry for the easy handling and good results in scale-up. However, in general it is difficult to electrodeposit onto aluminum due to the ever-present thin insulating oxide film. In this work, we propose an adherent interlayer film based on copper, which is electrodeposited onto aluminum, and serves as a basis for the subsequent electrodeposition of a selective coating consisting of bright nickel and the absorber film of electrodeposited black nickel. Solar collectors based on aluminum substrates and this electrodeposited selective coating are specifically useful for thermo-solar applications at low to medium temperature.Electrochemistry studies including cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic curves are carried out for all the different layers. The properties of the coatings are subsequently characterized by reflectance spectra using UV-Vis, NIR and IR spectrophotometers equipped with integrating spheres. The solar absorptance is calculated by weighting the reflectance spectrum against the solar radiation spectrum ASTM G173-03. The thermal emittance is calculated weighting the reflectance spectra against the black body radiation function at 100 °C. The morphology and homogeneity of the film are evaluated with scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry is used to determine the film composition. The crystalline structure of the films is studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman measurements. The second and third layer, bright nickel, and black nickel, respectively, are electrodeposited on top of the Cu layer using a previously reported method. We characterize the selective coating electrodeposited onto aluminum/Cu/bright nickel and show that this is a viable technology for the fabrication of low-cost and high efficiency flat plate solar collectors. In addition, we demonstrate the scale-up of the electrodeposition process, and characterize the performance of a complete flat-plate solar collector device of 1.8 m2 gross area.AcknowledgementsThe authors gratefully acknowledge CONACYT, Módulo Solar S.A. de C.V. and IER-UNAM for funding through the Mexican Center for Innovation in Solar Energy (CeMIE-Sol), Project P-81.