A Research Road Map Approaching Thin Films of Semiconductors Electropulsing Induced Phase Transformations in Alloys and Thin Films of TCO and TE Semiconductors
Abstract:
Based on systematic studies of equilibrium and non-equilibrium transformations and the stress induced trans formations, studies of electropulsing induced phase transformations of alloys and thin films of semiconductors, such as transparent conductive oxides (TCO) and thermoelectric (TE) materials: Bi-Te, AZO-2 and AZO-5 have been carried out. As an advanced process, electropulsing increases plastic elongation of alloys about 437%. Under adequate electropulsing, phase transformations and microstructural changes were tremendously accel erated by factors of at least 6000 times, compared to conventional aging processes in alloys. The electropulsing induced circular phase transformations (quenching – up quenching, up quenching – quenching, … quenching – up quenching – quenching – up quenching etc.) and preferred crystal orientation changes are quantitatively detected to complete several seconds, in the alloys and the thin films of the AZO and Bi-Te semiconductors. Adequate electro pulsing increases electric conductivity of the thin-films of the semiconductors for 44.6% and 28.5%, respectively. The quantitative detection of multi-circulation of both phase transformations and preferred crystal orientation changes makes it possible to monitor microstructural changes and to enhance physical and optical properties and upgrade the currently applied thin films, microchips and strips etc. to a new level in the large market of the semiconductors.
