Editor, Author at Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering

New optical features to enhance solar cell performance based on porous silicon surfaces

April 18, 2013 By Editor

Abstract – Electrochemical etching is used to fabricate porous silicon (PS) surfaces for both sides of the Si wafer. The effect of PS on performance of Si solar cells is investigated and the reflected mirrors are manipulated to enhance solar cell efficiency. The process is promising for solar cell manufacturing due to its simplicity, lower cost and suitability for mass production. The PS surface has discrete pores and short-branched pores on the polished wafer side. In contrast, the etched backside of the wafer has smaller pore size, with random pores. PS formed on both sides has lower reflectivity value compared with results in other works. Solar cell efficiency is increased to 15.4% with PS formed on both sides compared with the unetched sample and other results. Using empirical models, the optical properties of the refractive index and the optical dielectric constant are investigated. The porous surface texturing properties could enhance and increase the conversion efficiency of porous Si solar cells. The obtained results are in agreement with experimental and other data.

Keywords – Porous silicon, Solar cell, Crystalline silicon, Refractive index

Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Yarub Al-Douri
Corresponding Author’s Email: yarub@unimap.edu.my

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Prof. Sir Anthony J. Leggett Visit 15th Jan 2013

January 17, 2013 By Editor

Visit From Prof. Sir Anthony J. Leggett
INEE was proudly received a visit from 2003’s Nobel Laureate Winner in Physics, Professor Sir Anthony J. Leggett on the January 15th, 2013. He was accompanied by the VC’s of the the UniMAP himself, Brig. Jen. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Kamarudin Hussin.

The short briefing regarding the INEE’s research progress was done by the director of the INEE, Prof Dr Uda Hashim. Generally Professor Sir Anthony J. Leggett was impressed for such a small lab like INEE was capable to achieve the research objectives especially in the nanotechnology arena.

Prof. Sir Anthony J. Leggett was also invited to be one of the Keynote Speaker at the Joint International Conference on Nanoscience, Engineering, and Management (BOND21) that to be held in August 2013.

Souvenir delivered by Brig. Jen. Prof. Dato' Dr. Kamarudin Hussin. — Souvenir delivered by Brig. Jen. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Kamarudin Hussin.

Prof. Sir Anthony J. Leggett

The Prime Recipient Lecture Series Nobel Prize 2003: Professor Sir Anthony J. Leggett

January 9, 2013 By Editor

Professor Sir Anthony J. Leggett
Date: January 14, 2013
Time: 9.00 am
Venue: Dewan Kapitol, UniMAP, Kangar, Perlis

Prof. Dr. Uda Hashim Raih Anugerah Sains Dan Teknologi ISESCO

December 4, 2012 By Editor

KANGAR, 28 Nov: Pengarah Institut Kejuruteraan Nano Elektronik (INEE), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Prof. Dr. Uda Hashim terpilih untuk menerima anugerah Hadiah Laureate Sains dan Teknologi ISESCO 2012 daripada The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) pada 20 November baru-baru ini.

Anugerah tersebut adalah bagi menghargai sumbangan besar beliau dalam bidang teknologi khususnya teknologi nano dan bakal meletakkan nama beliau sebaris dengan “ISES Science and Technology Laureate”.

Anugerah ini disampaikan oleh Prof Khamis Kajo Kunda, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi dan Penyelidikan Saintifik Sudan, sempena Sixth Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research yang berlangsung di Khartoum, Sudan, pada 20 hingga 21 November 2012.

Sebanyak 88 pencalonan telah diterima oleh pihak penganjur dari negara negara anggota OIC, tetapi hanya empat penerima telah terpilih untuk memenagi hadiah Laureate pada tahun ini yang mewakili bidang masing-masing iaitu dari Pakistan untuk bidang Matematik, Jordan untuk bidang Biologi, calon Azerbaijan untuk bidang kimia dan Prof Dr Uda dari Malaysia untuk bidang teknologi.

Bagi Prof. Dr. Uda, anugerah tersebut merupakan satu penghargaan yang besar bukan sahaja bagi beliau secara peribadi, tetapi ia juga sekaligus dapat mengharumkan nama Malaysia amnya dan UniMAP khususnya di peringkat antarabangsa.

Ini merupakan petanda awal yang Malaysia khususnya UniMAP mampu untuk melahirkan calon nobel laureate pada masa akan datang. UniMAP sedang dan akan merangka beberapa perancangan untuk mencapai impian dan hasrat ini.

“Saya berasa bersyukur dan berbangga kerana hasil sumbangan penyelidikan kita semakin mendapat tempat dah diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa sebaris dengan penyelidik-penyelidik barat.

Harapan saya, semoga lebih banyak lagi hasil penyelidikan penyelidik Islam khususnya dari Malaysia akan diiktiraf pada masa akan datang,” katanya ketika dihubungi.

Preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles supported on magnesium oxide for producing high-quality single-walled carbon nanotubes

November 22, 2012 By Editor

Abstract – Fe3O4 nanoparticles with a narrow diameter distribution having an average diameter of 10.33 nm ± 2.99 nm (average diameter ± standard deviation) were prepared by a precipitation method. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were supported on MgO by mixing the MgO nanopowder with the required amount of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in water under extensive sonication. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methane over the Fe3O4/MgO catalyst. Transmission electron microscopy showed that a large number of SWCNT bundles of nearly uniform diameter were produced by the CVD method. The average diameter of the produced SWCNTs was ca. 1.22 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the weight loss was approximately 19% by oxidation of carbon in the temperature range of 400-680 oC. The ratio of the intensity of the D-band to the G-band was 0.03, indicating that the SWCNTs were well-graphitized.

Keywords – Single-walled carbon nanotubes, Chemical vapor deposition, Electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy

Corresponding Author: Liu Wei Wen
Corresponding Author’s Email: wwliu@unimap.edu.my

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