MRI: Acquistion of a Thin Film Materials Depostition System

这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)资金将支持收购薄膜材料沉积系统，用于材料和纳米/微电子研究。本研究的目的是为低成本、高效率的Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS)薄膜的制备和开发以及太阳能电池的研究提供支持。该磁共振成像仪器还将通过检测固化石墨烯作为CZTS太阳能电池柔性基板的潜在用途，支持克拉克亚特兰大大学(CAU)高性能聚合物和复合材料中心的研究。该方法是利用沉积系统溅射S背接触层(钼)、窗口层(氧化锌)、正接触层(掺铝氧化锌)和蒸发吸收层(CZTS)来制备和表征组成CZTS太阳电池器件的薄层材料。智力优势：使用可再生的绿色资源，如光伏(PV)，为解决全球能源问题提供了一个有利和有前途的替代方案。昂贵的材料和工艺限制了光伏未来长期成本降低的潜力。CZTS是一种由丰富、低成本、低毒元素组成的半导体材料。这项核磁共振成像计划的支持，美国国家科学基金会最近授予的布里奇奖助金，以及皮？S与中国农业大学、佐治亚理工学院和特殊科学技术大学的合作，都预示着一条在研究和培训方面取得突破和成功的成功之路。更广泛的影响：支持这项MRI建议将有助于继续扩大代表不足的群体在国家需要的紧急领域的参与？在几个STEM学科以及在研究和培训活动中使用替代可再生能源系统。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) funding will support the acquisition of a thin film materials deposition system for materials and Nano/micro-electronics research. The objective of this research is to support the fabrication and development of low-cost, efficient Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films and solar cells research. This MRI instrumentation will also support research at the High Performance Polymer and Composites Center at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) by examining the potential use of cured graphene as flexible substrates for CZTS solar cells. The approach is to fabricate and characterize thin layers of materials comprising the CZTS solar cell device, using the deposition system to sputter the device?s back contact (molybdenum), window layer (zinc oxide), front contact (aluminum doped zinc oxide), and evaporate the absorber layer (CZTS). INTELLECTUAL MERIT: The use of renewable green resources, such as photovoltaics (PV) offer a favorable and promising alternative to the worldwide energy problems. Expensive materials and processes limit the potential for future long term cost reductions in PV. CZTS is a semiconductor material consisting of abundant, low-cost, low-toxicity elements. The support of this MRI proposal, the PIs recent award of a NSF BRIGE grant, and the PI?s collaborations with CAU, Georgia Tech and SPSU, predicts a successful path toward breakthroughs and success in research and training. BROADER IMPACT: Support of this MRI proposal will help to continue broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in an emergent area of national need ? alternative renewable energy systems, in several STEM disciplines, and in research and training activities.