What is a Mirror Made Of? Mirrors are objects that reflect images. People have been making mirrors with stone, metals, and glass for thousands of years. Generally, a mirror is composed of transparent glass and a thin coating on the back. The layer on the back is both protective and functional. On one hand, it...Continue Reading
One of the main applications of chromium is the production of stainless steel and chrome plating. The process of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object can be done to add aesthetic appeal or to make the surface harder and more corrosion-resistant. Chrome plating can produce chromium layers as thin as 0.001...Continue Reading
Aluminum (Al) belongs to the main Group 13 (III, or boron group) of the periodic table. The Latin term alumen, which refers to potash alum or aluminum potassium sulfate, KAl(SO4)212H2O, is where the name aluminum originates. Aluminum is a light silvery white metal and the most common non-ferrous metal. Aluminum never appears in nature in the...Continue Reading
What is an AZO Sputtering Target? AZO sputtering targets are also referred to as aluminum-doped zinc oxide sputtering targets. Aluminum-doped zinc oxide is a transparent conducting oxide. This oxide is insoluble in water but is thermally stable. AZO sputtering targets are typically used for thin-film deposition. Doping is a process that involves intentionally adding impurities...Continue Reading
Introduction Chemical vapor deposition is a coating method that is commonly used to produce thin films and coatings of very high quality. Gaseous reactants are usually used in this process. In chemical vapor deposition, you transport one or more volatile precursors to the reaction chamber. The volatile precursors usually decompose on a heated substrate surface...Continue Reading
Introduction A solar panel is an arrangement of connected solar cells. It is also referred to as a photovoltaic module. In solar panels, solar/light energy is converted into electrical energy by solar cells. An American named Charles Fritts produced the first commercial solar panel in 1881. Many technological advancements have transformed the first solar panels...Continue Reading
Introduction Thin-film solar panels are becoming more popular all over the world. There are various types of thin-film solar panels and each type has its advantages and disadvantages. This begs the question, of which thin-film solar panel is better suited for you. In this post, we will be exploring two types of thin-film solar panels...Continue Reading
What is CIGS Thin-Film Photovoltaic? Thin-film photovoltaics, also called solar cells, are devices that convert light energy into electrical energy using the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect explains how voltage is produced when light strikes a material. CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) is a semiconductor material most popularly known for its use in solar cells with...Continue Reading
The rare earth element ytterbium is a soft, malleable, and ductile element known for its bright silvery luster. Ytterbium is the fourteenth and penultimate element in the lanthanide series, an occurrence that explains the relative stability of its +2 oxidation state. But like the other lanthanides, the most common or stable oxidation state of Ytterbium...Continue Reading
