The fabrication of nanostructured ZnO thin films is a critic process for a lot of applications of this semiconductor material. The final properties of this film depend fundamentally of the morphology of the sintered layer. In this paper a process is presented for the fabrication of ZnO nanostructured layers with morphology control by pulsed electrodeposition over ITO. Process optimization is achieved by pulsed electrodeposition and results are assessed after a careful characterization of both morphology and electrical properties. SEM is used for nucleation analysis on pulsed deposited samples. Optical properties like transmission spectra and Indirect Optical Band Gap are used to evaluate the quality of the obtained ZnO structures. Solar cell devices with industrial application are stratified laminar materials, with several dm 2 of exposed surface, processed by piling up several layers with different composition, each of them has a different function and complementary in the device. The performance of present commercial solar cells (that are based in semiconductors III-V, with Si poly or mono crystalline) is determined by the different fabrication process.1,2 In all of them, the production of diverse interfaces is the design factor, developed by growing different layers. The final properties of the semiconductor are defined by the type of boundary, the chemical species present, etc. . .. One of the determining factors in the final performance of the cell is its morphology, and the final product quality depends on the possibility of having a close control on the nucleation parameters.3,4 The optimization of these interfaces is a challenge for the photovoltaic industry, optimization must be based on a thorough understanding on the growth mechanisms. Likewise, the key for a successful implementation of photovoltaic energy is based on how industry attains a cheaper and more efficient process for cell fabrication. It is therefore necessary to reduce costs and production time of the cells without decreasing its performance. This requires more efficient production processes. These goals are common to all manufacturers of photovoltaic cells. Given the above scenario electrodeposition is selected as a favoured technique. This study develops the manufacture of inorganic layers of nanostructured ZnO for photovoltaic applications trough low-cost technology. In particular, Pulsed current electrodeposition (ED) is to be presented as a highly promising alternative. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of waveform control for the electrodeposition current on the morphology as a tool to control the optical properties of the thin layer. The selected material (ZnO) has a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure optimal for the development of hybrid solar cells. These materials have been characterized using different techniques to quantify the ability of the photovoltaic material, and at the same time, to correlate morphology and optoelectronic properties. In particular, the optical, electrical and structural best suited fo...

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Ni-Mo-P coatings are obtained at the surface of ceramic substrate by electroless deposition using palladium as a surface catalyst. The influence of catalyst activation conditions on coatings' properties was assessed by structural, morphological, electrical, mechanical measurements and adhesion strength by using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Hall effect and nanoindentation techniques, respectively. The results indicated the formation of dense, continuous and uniform coatings consisting mainly of Ni. The coatings obtained at 300 °C for 12 h exhibited the best electrical properties, namely resistivity of 9.32 μΩ cm, smaller roughness (R a 0.090 µm) and average mechanical properties. The adhesion tests showed a firm adherence of the Ni-Mo-P coatings to the ceramic surface. The results of this study could offer an approach for obtaining conducting ceramic substrates in order to be employed in photovoltaic applications. The performance of demonstrative heterojunction solar cell obtained with such metallized ceramic is indicative of the high potential of the Ni-Mo-P electroless coatings for functional ceramics.