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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11375/15306
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dc.contributor.advisorPreston, Johnen_US
dc.contributor.advisorMascher, Peteren_US
dc.contributor.advisorSaravanamuttu, Kalaichelvien_US
dc.contributor.authorJarvis, Victoria M.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-06-18T21:13:34Z-
dc.date.created2013-10-10en_US
dc.date.issued2013-10en_US
dc.identifier.otheropendissertations/8434en_US
dc.identifier.other9504en_US
dc.identifier.other4692042en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11375/15306-
dc.description.abstract<p>The development of nanocomposite materials has had significant influence on modern material design. Novel properties can be achieved and controlled for a diverse range of applications. The work presented here focused on characterization of polyurethane based coatings with ITO nano-inclusions. The coatings displayed high transparency in the visible range, and UV/IR shielding properties when studied with UV-Vis spectroscopy. UV/IR shielding improved with greater ITO density, with minor affect on visible transmittance. The effective medium approximation was successfully applied to ellipsometry modeling. Coatings with varying fractions of nanoparticles were analyzed. The modeled volume percent of the nanoparticles followed a strong linear trend with the known weight percentages. SEM and TEM imaging determined that majority of the particles existed in clusters. The nanoparticles were oblong shaped, 10-20nm big, randomly distributed, with no segregation to interfaces. Agglomerates varied in size, with the largest observed agglomerate being 250nm.</p> <p>Thermal stability was studied by TGA and DSC. No degradation occurred until 238°C. DSC revealed that the matrix continued to undergo modifications with consecutive runs. It was inconclusive whether the changes were from the polyurethane or dispersive agents in the system. Electron micrographs showed that segregation did not occur post-annealing. Average surface roughness increased from 3.5nm to 5nm after annealing at 120°C for several weeks. Ellipsometry results showed that film thickness decreased 20nm and 50nm before equilibriating for the 80°C and 120°C anneals respectively. The optical and thermal measurements demonstrated that the coating has great potential for improving the PV performance.</p>en_US
dc.subjectpolyurethaneen_US
dc.subjectellipsometryen_US
dc.subjectopticalen_US
dc.subjectphotovoltaicen_US
dc.subjectindium tin oxideen_US
dc.subjecttransparent nanocomposite coatingen_US
dc.subjectMaterials Science and Engineeringen_US
dc.subjectMaterials Science and Engineeringen_US
dc.titleCharacterization of a Nanocomposite Coating for PV Applicationsen_US
dc.typethesisen_US
dc.contributor.departmentEngineering Physicsen_US
dc.date.embargo2014-10-10-
dc.description.degreeMaster of Applied Science (MASc)en_US
dc.date.embargoset2014-10-10en_US
Appears in Collections:Open Access Dissertations and Theses

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