This work investigates the creation of nanostructured glass surfaces through the solid-state thermal dewetting of gold (Au) thin films, followed by the removal of the resulting Au nanoisland (AuNI) to form craters on the glass substrate. By varying the nominal thickness of the Au film and the annealing time, we controlled the size, density, and distribution of the AuNI, which in turn affected the dimensions of the resulting craters. Characterization of these nanostructured surfaces was performed using SEM and AFM analyses, revealing significant variations in the lateral and vertical characteristics. Experimental reflectivity measurements showed up to a 20% reduction, demonstrating the tunability of the nanostructured surfaces. The Maxwell-Garnett model (MGM) was employed to theoretically model the optical properties of these surfaces, treating the craters as air-filled cylinders. The MGM parameters, including the thickness of the nanostructured layer and the filling fraction of the cylinders, were derived to match experimental data. Further theoretical optimization indicated that achieving craters with a depth of approximately 100nm could further reduce reflectivity. This tunability in nanostructuring enables the design of glass surfaces with specific optical properties, making the findings promising for applications such as solar cells, where minimizing Fresnel losses is crucial.
This investigation assesses the effect of different encapsulation materials and environmental conditions on ionic currents in methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) thin films, which are essential for the stability of perovskite solar cells. Encapsulation types such as PMMA, MgF2, and SiO2 were examined under both air and vacuum conditions, complemented by an epoxy-sealed glass cover for extra protection. Employing the photo-electromotive force technique to analyze ion dynamics, findings indicate that environmental exposure and layer interaction profoundly influence ionic activity. While a single encapsulation layer falls short in protecting against environmental factors, combining SiO2 with an epoxy-sealed glass significantly improves MAPI film stability, albeit the epoxy layer alters ionic responses, underscoring the complexity in optimizing encapsulation for enhanced solar cell performance.
In this work, we investigate the plasmonic response of a random metasurface based on gold nano-islands (AuNI) in an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) configuration. AuNI structures were obtained by thermal annealing of an ultrathin gold film deposited on a glass substrate. The samples exhibited a wide range of sizes and particle densities, varying the nominal gold thickness. For p polarization, a well-defined localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) dip was observed in all samples, while for s polarization, only AuNI with the smallest radii showed this dip. Some samples exhibited nearly zero reflection at the resonance wavelength. The highest sensitivity among all tested samples was achieved in these samples, providing potential for optimizing LSPR transducers in sensing applications. Notably, the resonance wavelength exhibited a nonlinear dependence on the refractive index in sensitivity measurements displaying a blue shift.
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