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Energy Generation & Storage

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Energy Generation & Storage Applications

Typically we think of power plants generating electricity and heat using a variety of energy sources such as coal, gas, oil, nuclear, wind, hydro, geothermal and solar energy. Each of the different methods faces challenges as the energy is converted from a primary source into electricity or heat. 

Discover how Oxford Instruments can help you:

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  • Enhance performance
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Batteries

Application Notes

View all of our Energy Generation & Storage application notes

Resolving defects and true orientations in CIGS-type solar cells
The performance and efficiency of solar cells are intimately linked to their crystallographic properties on the sub-micrometre scale. This application note shows how the EBSD technique, coupled with advanced pattern matching methods, can be used to resolve dislocation structures, antiphase domain boundaries and true crystallographic orientations in CIGS-type solar cells.
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NCM cathode material characterised using EBSD

Discover how EBSD can be used to obtain grain size and texture information from NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese) cathode material. By characterising and comparing samples of different cathode materials at different stages of the battery’s lifetime, it's possible to link the performance with the microstructure and improve understanding of how the materials can be optimised.

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EBSD analysis of Lead Halide Perovskites using Symmetry

Methylammonium Lead Halides (MALHs) are organic crystal compounds used in solar cells, LEDs, LASERs and photodetectors. Recent improvements to EBSD detectors now allows for their characterisation of grain size and texture.

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Multi-Scale Analysis of Dislocations and Grain Boundaries for Improving mc-Si Solar Cell Performance

Solar cells are being increasingly used globally and it is important that improvements are made on the production of Mc-Si cells to enhance efficiency. Analysis of these solar cells using EBIC, TEM and APT

 

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EBSD and EDS in the analysis of thin-film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber layers

An important part of the research and development of thin-film solar cells is the characterisation of microstructural and compositional properties of the functional layers.

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Characterisation of Hydrides in a Zirconium Alloy, by EBSD

Zirconium alloys are used in nuclear reactors owing to their low capture cross-section for thermal neutrons and good mechanical and corrosion properties. However, they suffer from delayed hydrogen cracking (DHC) due to formation of hydride particles. This study shows how EBSD can be used to characterise hydrides in terms of their orientation relationship with the matrix and internal structure and local misorientation.

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Identifying contaminants in Li-Ion battery production using AZtecFeature

Lithium Ion batteries are found in most mobile electronic devices (e.g. laptop computers, phones etc). They are the dominant battery technology due to their superior energy to weight ratio and lack of memory effect. They are also the primary battery type used in the latest generation of electric and hybrid cars.

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Monitoring the Composition of NCM cathodes in Li-ion Batteries

Optimising and controlling the cathode material is one of the important areas for current Li-ion battery technology. This application note demonstrates a simple and automated method which does not rely on operator expertise - using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the composition of powder particles used for Li-ion battery cathodes.

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Characterisation of all-oxide solar cells using AZtec LayerProbe

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are an attractive option for generating low carbon renewable energy but traditional designs often include undesirable toxic compounds and must be manufactured under special conditions. The all-oxide approach to photovoltaic cells is thus very attractive...

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Solar cells from chalcopyrite-type thin films analysed by electron backscatter diffraction

Solar energy conversion is part of a long term strategy to ensure a stable and adequate supply of electrical power in the future. Photovoltaics are the only method of converting sunlight directly into electrical energy. The efficiency of a photovoltaic system is measured...

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SEM based analysis of Lithium ion battery materials

New and existing materials for lithium ion batteries are being studied extensively with the aim of increasing their storage capacity and lifetime. While the SEM is an important tool in the study of these materials, characterising the distribution of Li still remains one of the main challenges.

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