Optimization Of Fabrication Process Research Articles

Efficiency of Optimized Fabrication Process for Light-absorbing Membranes from Sewage Sludge Applied in Solar-driven Steam Generation Systems

Solar-driven evaporation systems have been studied to provide clean water, especially for islandic areas. Carbon materials made from sludge in domestic wastewater treatment plants have been studied to produce light-absorbing membranes in solar-to-steam (STS) systems. However, the technical limitation of this method is that the water evaporation rate is still low. In this study, the process of manufacturing light-absorbing membranes was optimized to simplify the process while increasing the water evaporation rate and testing the application of converting seawater into fresh water. The optimal evaporation rate was 2.65 kg.m-2.h-1, higher than the system using vacuum drying membranes (1.88 kg.m-2.h-1) under 0.6 kW/m2 illumination conditions. When illuminated, the surface temperature of the TN_0.1 light-absorbing membrane reached 36.5°C, meaning 2.5°C higher than that of the reference membrane (without carbon material). The results of analyzing some anion and cation indicators in the harvested water showed that the fabricated STS systems could be applied well to convert seawater into fresh water for domestic use. Especially, the treatment efficiencies for , , , reach 99.87%, 94.35%, 99.5%, 99.98%, and 99.44%, respectively.

Preparation Method and Benefit Analysis for Unburned Brick Using Construction Solid Waste from Residue Soil

Highly efficient resource utilization of construction solid waste has significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits. In this study, a fabrication method and process optimization of unburned brick from construction residue soil were investigated based on experiments. The effects of cementing the material content, the raw material treatment process, the brick moisture content, and the molding method on the compressive strength of unburned brick were studied and discussed. The experimental results show that 5–20% of ordinary cement can produce a strength grade of 5 MPa–20 MPa for unburned brick, and the utilization rate of the residue soil is greater than 80%. In the case of well-dispersed residual particles, complete drying and rolling are not necessary, and soil particle size within 5 mm is beneficial for obtaining proper sand grading and low mud content, which will improve the strength of unburned brick. The pressure for the press forming of unburned brick should be 10 MPa, and the optimal moisture content of the residue-soil mixture is about 13%. The proposed residue-soil unburned brick has remarkable environmental and economic benefits with low carbon emissions, low cost, and high profit. The methods proposed and optimized in this study can provide important technical support for realizing the large-scale production of residue-soil unburned brick.

Leakage current in GaN-on-GaN vertical GaN SBDs grown by HVPE on native GaN substrates

This study investigates leakage mechanisms in vertical GaN-on-GaN Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) and demonstrates effective mitigation strategies. The fabricated devices exhibit low reverse leakage current (1 × 10−5 A/cm2 at −200 V) and a high Ion/Ioff ratio (∼1010), surpassing the performance of GaN SBDs on foreign substrates. We elucidate dominant leakage mechanisms—thermionic emission, Poole–Frenkel emission, and variable-range hopping—and their evolution with temperature and bias. Optimized fabrication processes, including defect etching and a novel dual-layer passivation technique, achieve over a 1000-fold reduction in leakage current.

Investigation of fibre-modified silica aerogel composites

Abstract This investigation evaluates the thermal and mechanical performance of fibre-reinforced silica aerogel composites by introducing an optimised fabrication process and vacuumization. The novelty of this investigation was the identification of the minimum amount of solvent being used to synthesise aerogel, as well as the introduction of temperature ageing (45 °C). These provide a valuable guide for lowering the fabricating cost with optimised properties of aerogel composites. The glass fibre (GF)–aerogel composites obtained from the optimised process showed excellent thermal conductivity (18.4 mW m−1 K−1 at a pressure load of 2 psi (13.8 kPa)). It is worth mentioning that vacuum sealing of the aerogel composites not only prevents dustiness during handling but also improves the thermal performance. The thermal conductivity could be further reduced to 13.8 mW m−1 K−1 by vacuum sealing the GF–aerogel composite. The compression and bending tests proved that the aerogel composites could endure considerable compressive and flexural strain without structural destruction. These outstanding characteristics indicate that GF–aerogel composites have great potential in the thermal insulation field, especially for a moderate temperature environment (i.e., less than 800 °C).

Improved preparation of AgNW film and its application in flexible counter electrodes of dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells

Silver nanowire (AgNW) has been wildly used to prepare flexible conducting substrate of electronic and optoelectronic devices. By coating a layer of carbon onto a polymer/AgNW substrate, a counter electrode (CE) was obtained and it offers the advantages of high flexibility, light weight, low cost, simple fabrication, and operating efficiently in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By modifying the traditional unidirectional roll-coating process of AgNW to cross-directional coating, the morphology and distribution of the AgNW network was improved, which led to increased transmittance and electroconductivity, and subsequently improved cell efficiency of DSSCs and PSCs. The performance of the CEs and solar cells was further promoted by optimized fabrication process of the carbon layer. The as-prepared flexible CEs achieved great enhancement of cell efficiencies, and maximum power conversion efficiencies of 5.17% and 14.32% were obtained by DSSCs and PSCs, respectively.

Enhanced molding and mechanical properties of SiC-based ceramic lattice structures via digital light processing

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic lattice structures (CLSs) hold significant potential for use in structural components and optical mirrors in space exploration due to their light weight, high strength, and excellent dimensional stability. However, they face challenges such as poor curing performance and weak mechanical strength during the digital light processing (DLP) additive manufacturing process. In this study, SiC@Al2O3 powder was prepared, resulting in a 21 % reduction in absorptivity compared to bare SiC powder. The ceramic paste derived from this powder achieved a curing thickness of up to 80 μm, exhibited a reduced over-curing width, and demonstrated a 75 % improvement in stability compared to bare SiC paste. Consequently, high-quality triply periodic minimal surfaces (TMPS) structured SiC@Al2O3 CLSs green bodies were successfully fabricated. By integrating precursor impregnation pyrolysis with the reaction melting infiltration (PIP-RMI) post-treatment densification method, SiC@Al2O3/Si CLSs were produced, exhibiting superior mechanical properties with low dimensional shrinkage. At 30 % volume fraction, the specific compressive strength of the primitive-TPMS SiC@Al2O3/Si CLSs reached 24.79 MPa. This study presents an effective method for fabricating SiC-based CLSs and establishes a foundation for the optimization of SiC ceramic fabrication processes.

Understanding different oxidation methods for the hole transport layer Spiro-OMeTAD to improve perovskite solar cell performance

The preparation of a high-performance hole transport layer is a pivotal factor in achieving efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells. 2,2’,7,7’-Tetrakis[N, N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]−9,9’-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) currently stands as the most widely employed hole transport material in high-performance perovskite solar cells. The current methodologies for its preparation primarily revolve around three techniques: O2 oxidation, cobalt salt doping, and CO2 bubbled doping. In this study, we systematically investigated and analyzed Spiro-OMeTAD prepared through these three methods, from solution and film to device. The CO2-bubbled method and Co-doped method allow for faster and more complete oxidation of Spiro-OMeTAD while maintaining conductivity and energy level matching. Therefore, the film of both methods shows better carrier extract capabilities and defect states than that of O2-oxidized. In particular, the film of the CO2-bubbled method had better hydrophobicity and thermal stability, showing the least degradation at 85 °C annealing, which can be attributed to the removal of hydrophilic Li+. This study could inspire further optimization of Spiro-OMeTAD film fabrication processes in perovskite solar cells.

Forming limit diagram of annealed copper OFE thick sheets for optimized hydroforming of superconducting RF cavities

Coated superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are planned to be implemented in the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The interest in industrialized and high-performance processes for fabrication of the corresponding copper substrates has thus risen. Tubular hydroforming is a well-known industrial process, but has not been thoroughly applied for ultra-pure oxygen-free electronic copper (Cu-OFE) thick products. To provide a feasibility analysis for the optimized fabrication process of copper substrate seamless cavities, a Forming Limit Diagram (FLD) of the material of interest was studied. In this paper, the methodology, test results and initial benchmark of the material model is presented, for 4 mm and 2 mm thick sheets.

Optimized Fabrication Process and PD Characteristics of MVDC Multilayer Insulation Cable Systems for Next Generation Wide-Body All-Electric Aircraft

For wide-body all-electric aircraft (AEA), a high-power-delivery, low-system-mass electric power system (EPS) necessitates advanced cable technologies. Increasing voltage levels enhances power density yet poses challenges in aircraft cable design, including managing arc-related risks, partial discharges (PDs), and thermal management. Developing multilayer multifunctional electrical insulation (MMEI) systems for aircraft applications is a feasible option to tackle these challenges and reduce the size and mass of cable systems. This approach involves selecting layers of different materials to address specific challenges. Our prior research concentrated on the modeling and simulation-based design of MMEI systems for MVDC power cables. Experimental tests are essential for determining the behavior of PDs under varying pressure conditions. Also, the dielectric strength and time to failure of the designs need to be assessed. In this work, the fabrication process of a down-selected MMEI flat configuration is discussed and analyzed. This paper analyzes the fabrication process of power cables employing MMEI configurations and evaluates the PD characteristics of down-selected ARC-SC-T-MMEI cable samples. This study presents a detailed analysis of the characteristics of PD under atmospheric and low-pressure conditions, which will provide essential insights into the design of MVDC cables for future AEA applications.

Optimization of waveguide fabrication processes in lithium-niobate-on-insulator platform.

Lithium niobate (LN) is used in diverse applications such as spectroscopy, remote sensing, and quantum communications. The emergence of lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) technology and its commercial accessibility represent significant milestones. This technology aids in harnessing the full potential of LN's properties, such as achieving tight mode confinement and strong overlap with applied electric fields, which has enabled LNOI-based electro-optic modulators to have ultra-broad bandwidths with low-voltage operation and low power consumption. Consequently, LNOI devices are emerging as competitive contenders in the integrated photonics landscape. However, the nanofabrication, particularly LN etching, presents a notable challenge. LN is hard, dense, and chemically inert. It has anisotropic etch behavior and a propensity to produce material redeposition during the reactive-ion plasma etch process. These factors make fabricating low-loss LNOI waveguides (WGs) challenging. Recognizing the pivotal role of addressing these fabrication challenges for obtaining low-loss WGs, our research focuses on a systematic study of various process steps in fabricating LNOI WGs and other photonic structures. In particular, our study involves (i) careful selection of hard mask materials, (ii) optimization of inductively coupled plasma etch parameters, and finally, (iii) determining the optimal post-etch cleaning approach to remove redeposited material on the sidewalls of the etched photonic structures. Using the recipe established, we realized optical WGs with total (propagation and coupling) loss value of -10.5 dB, comparable to established values found in the literature. Our findings broaden our understanding of optimizing fabrication processes for low-loss lithium-niobate waveguides and can serve as an accessible resource in advancing LNOI technology.

CMOS-compatible photonic integrated circuits on thin-film ScAlN

Scandium aluminum nitride (ScAlN) has recently emerged as an attractive material for integrated photonics due to its favorable nonlinear optical properties and compatibility with complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication. Despite the promising and versatile material properties, it is still an outstanding challenge to realize low-loss photonic circuits on thin-film ScAlN-on-insulator wafers. Here, we present a systematic study on the material quality of sputtered thin-film Sc0.1Al0.9N produced in a CMOS-compatible 200 mm line, including its crystallinity, roughness, and second-order optical nonlinearity, and developed an optimized fabrication process to yield 400 nm thick, fully etched waveguides. With surface polishing and annealing, we achieve micro-ring resonators with an intrinsic quality factor as high as 1.47 × 105, corresponding to a propagation loss of 2.4 dB/cm. These results serve as a critical step toward developing future large-scale, low-loss photonic integrated circuits based on ScAlN.

Advancements in InAs/GaSb superlattice infrared detectors: Material innovations and optimization techniques

This paper presents a detailed study of the advancements in InAs/GaSb Superlattice (SL) infrared detectors, highlighting the significant progress made in material development and optimization techniques. The research begins with an overview of the historical developments, particularly the emergence of Tape InAs/GaSb binary II superlattice, which has revolutionized Third-Generation Infrared Focal Plane Arrays. A key focus is the optimization of fabrication processes, including temperature control and the V/III beam flux ratio, which are critical for enhancing the quality and efficiency of SL infrared detectors. The paper also explores the selection of superlattice interfaces, crucial for reducing strain and improving infrared absorption. Looking ahead, the study outlines future directions for SL infrared detectors, such as the exploration of new materials, incorporation of quantum well technology, and advancements in miniaturization and integration techniques. These developments aim to increase the stability, sensitivity, and overall performance of infrared detectors.

Probing single electrons across 300-mm spin qubit wafers

Building a fault-tolerant quantum computer will require vast numbers of physical qubits. For qubit technologies based on solid-state electronic devices1–3, integrating millions of qubits in a single processor will require device fabrication to reach a scale comparable to that of the modern complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) industry. Equally important, the scale of cryogenic device testing must keep pace to enable efficient device screening and to improve statistical metrics such as qubit yield and voltage variation. Spin qubits1,4,5 based on electrons in Si have shown impressive control fidelities6–9 but have historically been challenged by yield and process variation10–12. Here we present a testing process using a cryogenic 300-mm wafer prober13 to collect high-volume data on the performance of hundreds of industry-manufactured spin qubit devices at 1.6 K. This testing method provides fast feedback to enable optimization of the CMOS-compatible fabrication process, leading to high yield and low process variation. Using this system, we automate measurements of the operating point of spin qubits and investigate the transitions of single electrons across full wafers. We analyse the random variation in single-electron operating voltages and find that the optimized fabrication process leads to low levels of disorder at the 300-mm scale. Together, these results demonstrate the advances that can be achieved through the application of CMOS-industry techniques to the fabrication and measurement of spin qubit devices.

PREPARATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF NANOFIBRES-LOADED MAFENIDE USING ELECTROSPINNING TECHNIQUE TO CONTROL RELEASE

Objective: The primary objective was to fabricate a novel drug delivery system capable of providing a controlled and prolonged release of antibiotics. Methods: The experimental design was formulated using Design-Expert® software (version 13), enabling systematic and efficient fabrication process optimization. The study involved the preparation of various nanofiber formulations with different ratios of the three polymers to assess their impact on drug release behavior. Mafenide, a widely used antibiotic, was chosen as the model drug for this investigation. The electrospinning process allowed for producing uniform and fine nanofibers with a high surface area, ensuring a large drug-loading capacity. The synthesized nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to evaluate their morphology, chemical interactions, and thermal properties. The drug release kinetics of the antibiotic-loaded nanofibers were studied under different physiological conditions to assess their sustained release behavior. Results: The final nanofiber formula was successfully prepared using the electrospinning technique. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was achieved to confirm the possibility of chemical interaction and bond formation between mafenide and the polymers. Present. The SEM picture of the optimized nanofiber formula showed the homogeneity and excellent entanglement of the electrospun nanofibers at a resolution of 5 µm. PVA/chitosan/HPMC and mafenide pure drug have been successfully fabricated with sufficient strength to resist swelling after absorbing wound exudate. The polymer network becomes more compact when chitosan and Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) are combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), enabling regulated swelling during solvent ingress. The polymer composite's three-dimensional network influenced how quickly the medication was released from the matrix. Sample 2's polymer network traps the medication, gradually releasing after controlled swelling, resulting in a sustained release profile compared to blank sample according to the cumulative release (%) study of mafenide loaded nanofiber and mafenide drug blank sample. Conclusion: This research successfully demonstrated the fabrication of sustained-release antibiotic nanofibers using electrospinning and three biocompatible polymers. The systematic optimization approach using Design-Expert® software proved effective in tailoring the drug release behavior of nanofibers. The developed drug delivery system holds great promise for pharmaceutical applications, particularly in improving antibiotic therapies and patient care.

Spin-dependent recombination affected by post-annealing of organic photovoltaic devices

Organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) are attracting attention because of recent rapid enhancement of their power conversion efficiency. For further improvement, optimization of fabrication processes is one useful path to a solution. During OPV fabrication, particularly of the bulk heterojunction active layer, annealing treatments contribute to the device performance. Many studies have examined annealing-related properties. However, further research must clarify how paramagnetic species in the devices play their roles by annealing. Using well-known OPVs, we investigated the relation between spin-dependent recombination (SDR) current and the paramagnetic species, which vary the numbers by post-annealing with active layers consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM). A simultaneous detection method of electron spin resonance (ESR) and electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR), which we originally developed, was applied to OPVs for the first time ever reported. Results show that PC61BM anion radicals generated by post-annealing of P3HT:PC61BM OPVs with a lithium fluoride (LiF)/aluminum (Al) electrode do not contribute to the SDR current at the interface and that P3HT cation radicals enhance the SDR current. By contrast, devices with an Al electrode without LiF decrease the total SDR current, although the quantities of cation radical molecules do not vary. This finding suggests that changes of the hole blocking layer in the devices caused by the annealing treatment affect the size of capture cross sections of P3HT cation radicals. Our new method of quantitative observation of the EDMR changes through the ESR signals is expected to be useful for investigating the capture cross sections in OPVs.

Multiscale Fabrication Process Optimization of DFB Cavities for Organic Laser Diodes.

In the context of the quest for the Organic Laser Diode, we present the multiscale fabrication process optimization of mixed-order distributed-feedback micro-cavities integrated in nanosecond-short electrical pulse-ready organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). We combine ultra-short pulsed electrical excitation and laser micro-cavities. This requires the integration of a highly resolved DFB micro-cavity with an OLED stack and with microwave electrodes. In a second challenge, we tune the cavity resonance precisely to the electroluminescence peak of the organic laser gain medium. This requires precise micro-cavity fabrication performed using e-beam lithography to pattern gratings with a precision in the nanometer scale. Optimal DFB micro-cavities are obtained with 300 nm thick hydrogen silsesquioxane negative-tone e-beam resist on 50 nm thin indium tin oxide anode exposed with a charge quantity per area (i.e., dose) of 620 µC/cm2, developed over 40 min in tetramethylammonium hydroxide diluted in water. We show that the integration of the DFB micro-cavity does not hinder the pulsed electrical operability of the device, which exhibits a peak current density as high as 14 kA/cm2.

Unraveling the pivotal role of heterointerfaces on oxide ion transport in solid oxide fuel cells

Overcoming fundamental key issues affecting performance and stability has been recognized as the most important challenge for the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Here, we employed a multipronged approach based on advanced nanoscale analyses coupled with electrochemical evaluation to elucidate the interrelation among ohmic resistance, oxide ion transport, and cation interdiffusion mainly occurring at the interlayer-electrolyte heterointerfaces. The presence of an interdiffusion layer (IDL), formed from the interdiffusion of Ce, Gd, and Zr during high-temperature sintering of conventional screen-printed gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) interlayer on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte, inadvertently acts as a major barrier to oxide ion transport and results in a significant increase of the ohmic resistance. An effective way to suppress the IDL formation and its oxide ion blocking effect is by alternatively fabricating the GDC interlayer using pulsed laser deposition (PLD), whereby dense layers prepared at a relatively lower deposition temperature without post-growth sintering can be obtained. Consequently, the cell's ohmic resistance is drastically lowered and a significant improvement in cell performance is achieved. These results have major implications for the selection and optimization of cell fabrication processes to mitigate degradation issues associated to heterointerfaces.

Machine Learning Assisted Optimization of Perovskite Thin Film Fabrication Process and Assessment of Feature Importance

Machine Learning Assisted Optimization of Perovskite Thin Film Fabrication Process and Assessment of Feature Importance

Pore-scale modeling and investigation on the effect of calendering on lithium-ion battery cathodes

The cathode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a porous electrode that has a crucial influence on cell performance and durability. In making the electrode, a metal foil is first coated with a cathode slurry and dried. The electrode then undergoes a hard-pressing by rollers, i.e., calendering process. In the present study, the effects of calendering on the cathode's effective transport properties and its impact on the battery's charging performance are investigated using a multiscale approach. Microscopic images of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 samples are obtained using X-ray computed tomography and SEM. This material's three-dimensional microstructure is generated using a numerical reconstruction algorithm based on the distribution characteristics of active material, additives, and pores observed from the microscopic images. Pore-scale simulations are performed on models of various calendering ratios (CRs) to evaluate the pore distribution, effective lithium-ion diffusivity, and electrical conductivity of the cathode material at different CRs. The computed effective transport properties of the cathode are applied to a macroscopic model to study the charging performance of LIBs at various CRs. It is found that the battery performance increases with CR and reaches optimal electrochemical performance at CR = 20 %. When the cathode is calendered to CR = 35 %, the battery's charging performance deteriorates, and this effect is more pronounced at high charging rates. The present study demonstrates a multiscale approach combining experiment characterization and pore-scale simulation for investigating the effects of calendering on LIB cathode. This approach can be employed for the future optimization of LIB fabrication processes.

Demonstration of avalanche capability in 800 V vertical GaN-on-silicon diodes

High-quality pseudo-vertical p–n diodes using a GaN-on-silicon heterostructure are reported. An optimized fabrication process including a beveled deep mesa as edge termination and reduced ohmic contact resistances enabled high on-state current density and low on-resistance. A uniform breakdown voltage was observed at 830 V. The positive temperature dependence of the breakdown voltage clearly indicates the avalanche capability, reflecting both the high material and processing quality of the vertical p–n diodes. The Baliga figure of merit, around 2 GW cm−2, which is favorably comparable to the state-of-the-art, combined with avalanche capability paves the way for fully vertical GaN-on-Silicon power devices.