In my research I found a gleam of hope. It is possible to use EBSD technique to determine the crystallographic orientation of individual grains in the polycrystalline silicon wafer despite the fact that surface is not smooth. This means that I will be able to examine what is the actual effect of acid etching on the grains orientation and whether this method is really isotropic.

In addition, I found a nice link to the e-learning platform in photovoltaics:
http://pveducation.org/pvcdrom

Enjoy :)

This month I continued research on diffusion process in the polyelectrolyte multilayer films using CLSM imaging techniques. The experiment was performed at a temperature range of+25oC to +50oC. I also prepared a few variants of cross-linked and non-cross-linked samples for ATR-FTIR analysis which should gives me information about PEM coatings internal structure. The issue of chemical cross-linking was investigated in more details by a micro-hardness and AFM measurements.

My activities in January:

I wrote the article entitled: "Age hardening of Mg-3Zn-xCa (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0 ) wt.% alloys” which was sent to Materials Science Forum.The article was prepared fot the 6th International Light Metal Technology Conference organised by Specialist Research Institute of Brunel University.

Here you can read abstract:

"Alloys of nominal composition Mg-3Zn-xCa (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0) wt.% were prepared by resistance melting and casting under the protective argon atmosphere. All specimens were examined by hardness test during ageing at 175 °C. It was shown that calcium addition causes the increase in hardness. A detailed characteristic of microstructure of metastable phases has been carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Calcium addition resulted in much refined and more homogeneous distribution of the precipitates when compared with the binary Mg-3%Zn alloy. The age-hardening of ternary alloy is attributed to the fine disc-shape plates lying on the basal plane of the matrix."

In January I have participated in SEM training course that have been organized in our Institute for interested young scientists and PhD students. During the training we used Institute Philips Electron Optics XL30 Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with LINK ISIS Energy Dispersive Spectrometer from Oxford Instrument. Training consisted of five meetings each lasting between two to four hours. During its course we have learned basic techniques required for sample observations in secondary and backscattered electrons. Additional training was given for X-ray chemical microanalysis for both standard-less and standard quantitative analysis, as well as chemical mapping.
Apart from training I have conducted mechanical tests on grade 2 and grade 4 titanium before (tensile tests + hardness) and after (hardness) KoBo extrusion.
Additionally first samples of titanium treated by electroerosion cutting have been prepared and inspected by means of scanning electron microscope.

Main studies carried out during the month:

- investigation of melt spun ribbons with hafnium addition (including microhardness measurements and microstructure analysis using SEM and TEM)
- investigation of melt spun ribbons with tungsten addition (TEM)
- preparation of an article for the AMT conference
- some trials on application of thermomechanical analysis to ribbons investigations (to determine linear thermal expansion coefficient of melt spun ribbons and their young modulus depending on temperature)