High quality ZnO:Al (AZO) thin films were prepared on glass substrates by direct current filtered cathodic arc deposition. Substrate temperature was varied from room temperature to 425°C, and samples were grown with and without the assistance of low power oxygen plasma (75W). For each growth condition, at least 3 samples were grown to give a statistical look at the effect of the growth environment on the film properties and to explore the reproducibility of the technique. Growth rate was in the 100-400 nm/min range but was apparently random and could not be easily traced to the growth conditions explored. For optimized growth conditions, 300-600 nm AZO films had resistivities of 3-6 x 10-4 Ωcm, carrier concentrations in the range of 2-4 x 1020 cm3, Hall mobility as high as 55 cm2/Vs, and optical transmittance greater than 90%. These films are also highly oriented with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate and a surface roughness of 2-4 nm.

Phase change nanodot arrays were fabricated using self-assembly diblock copolymer template PS-b-PMMA (polystyrene-poly (methyl-methacrylate)) and studied by time resolved X-ray diffraction. The size of the nanodots was less than 15nm in diameter with 40nm spacing. This method is quite flexible regarding the patterned materials, and can be used on different substrates. The crystallization behavior of small scale phase change nanodot arrays was studied for different materials, such as Ge15Sb85, Ge2Sb2Te5 and Ag and In doped Sb2Te. It was found that the nanodots had higher crystallization temperatures compared to their corresponding blanket films and crystallized over a broader temperature range.

Recent results have demonstrated that hybrid photovoltaic cells based on a blend of inorganic nanocrystals and polymers possess significant potential for low-cost, scalable solar power conversion. Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, like polymers, are solution processable and chemically synthesized, but possess the advantageous properties of inorganic semiconductors such as a broad spectral absorption range and high carrier mobilities. Significant advances in hybrid solar cells have followed the development of elongated nanocrystal rods and branched nanocrystals, which enable more effective charge transport. The incorporation of these larger nanostructures into polymers has required optimization of blend morphology using solvent mixtures. Future advances will rely on new nanocrystals, such as cadmium telluride tetrapods, that have the potential to enhance light absorption and further improve charge transport. Gains can also be made by incorporating application-specific organic components, including electroactive surfactants which control the physical and electronic interactions between nanocrystals and polymer.

Hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells promise to utilize the advantages of each class of materials and their complementary nature to produce power efficiently with inexpensive processing. Combining the efficient charge transport typical of inorganic semiconductors with the solution processibility of semiconducting polymers, nanocrystal-polymer photovoltaics hold tremendous potential[1[. Electronic energy levels of inorganic and organic semiconductors tend to be significantly staggered, creating a large energetic driving force for charge transfer. However, the hybrid approach requires control over the interface between dissimilar materials in order to mix them on the nanoscale. This mixing creates the very high area interface responsible for charge creation. Molecular level control of the interface, absent in current designs, could optimize charge separation.