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Full-Text Articles in Electronic Devices and Semiconductor Manufacturing

A Shade Tolerant Panel Design For Thin Film Photovoltaics, Sourabh Dongaonkar, Muhammad Alam Mar 2013

A Shade Tolerant Panel Design For Thin Film Photovoltaics, Sourabh Dongaonkar, Muhammad Alam

Sourabh Dongaonkar

We analyze the problem of partial shading of thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) panels, using full two dimensional circuit simulations. By accounting for the panel structure and typical array configurations, we can accurately account for the effect of various shading configurations at the cell and panel level. We demonstrate the limitation of external bypass diodes in protecting shaded cells from reverse breakdown, and explore the whole range of shading scenarios and their impact on reverse stress experienced by shaded cells. Based on the analysis, we identify the key aspects of shading problem, and formulate design rules for shadow aware geometrical design …


Reverse Stress Metastability Of Shunt Current In Cigs Solar Cells, Sourabh Dongaonkar, Erik Sheets, Rakesh Agrawal, Muhammad Alam Mar 2013

Reverse Stress Metastability Of Shunt Current In Cigs Solar Cells, Sourabh Dongaonkar, Erik Sheets, Rakesh Agrawal, Muhammad Alam

Sourabh Dongaonkar

Partial shading in thin film solar panels can result in reverse bias stress across shaded cells. Therefore, it is important to understand the effect of such reverse stress in commercially competitive PV technologies such as CIGS. In this paper, we systematically investigate the effect of moderate reverse bias on solution-processed CIGS solar cells. We subject the solar cells to varying degrees of reverse biases and continuously monitor the impact of the stress on dark current. We also explore the relaxation behavior of dark current following passive storage and the long term effect of the shadow stress on power output of …


Cause And Prevention Of Moisture-Induced Degradation Of Resistance Random Access Memory Nanodevices, Albert Chen Jan 2013

Cause And Prevention Of Moisture-Induced Degradation Of Resistance Random Access Memory Nanodevices, Albert Chen

Albert B Chen

Dielectric thin films in nanodevices may absorb moisture, leading to physical changes and property/performance degradation, such as altered data storage and readout in resistance random access memory. Here we demonstrate using a nanometallic memory that such degradation proceeds via nanoporosity, which facilitates water wetting in otherwise nonwetting dielectrics. Electric degradation only occurs when the device is in the charge-storage state, which provides a nanoscale dielectrophoretic force directing H2O to internal field centers (sites of trapped charge) to enable bond rupture and charged hydroxyl formation. While these processes are dramatically enhanced by an external DC or AC field and electron-donating electrodes, …


Demonstration And Modeling Of Multi-Bit Resistance Random Access Memory, Albert Chen Dec 2012

Demonstration And Modeling Of Multi-Bit Resistance Random Access Memory, Albert Chen

Albert B Chen

Although intermediates resistance states are common in resistance random access memory (RRAM), two-way switching among them has not been demonstrated. Using a nanometallic bipolar RRAM, we have illustrated a general scheme for writing/rewriting multi-bit memory using voltage pulses. Stability conditions for accessing intermediate states have also been determined in terms of a state distribution function and the weight of serial load resistance. A multi-bit memory is shown to realize considerable space saving at a modest decrease of switching speed.