Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 39 April 6, 2001

cal ’tour de force’ allows EPV to build large-area CIGS systems possessing considerable flexibility. In particular, both EPV’s
FORNAX process and NREL’s 3-stage process have been implemented on the pilot line. A CIGS thickness uniformity of 7% over
a 40 cm width has been achieved; (6) A 4-head linear source assembly was designed, constructed, and is in use. Flux monitoring
is practiced; (7) Large-area CIGS modules were produced with Voc’s up to 36.3 V; (8) EPV has started to construct an entirely
new CIGS pilot line for scale-up and limited manufacturing purposes. The coating width will be 65 cm; (9) The company’s analytical
capabilities are currently being upgraded with the installation of ICP and SEM/EDS facilities.
NTIS
Thin Films; Solar Cells; Photovoltaic Conversion
20010026214 National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO USA
Process Development and Basic Studies of Electrochemically Deposited CdTe-Based Solar Cells, Phase 1 Annual Report,
15 May - 1998 - 14 May 1999
Ohno, T. R.; Aug. 25, 2000; 65p; In English
Report No.(s): DE00-28762; NREL/SR-520-28762; No Copyright; Avail: Department of Energy Information Bridge, Microfiche
The project describes long-term research and development issues related to polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. The general
research approach is based on combining activities aimed at improvement of cell performance and stability with activities aimed
at increasing fundamental understanding of the properties of materials making up the cells: CdTe, CdS, multi-layer back contact,
and transparent conducting oxide (TCO) front contact. The authors emphasize the relation between structural and electronic material
properties and various processing procedures, as well as the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the cell performance
and its degradation. Major results and conclusions of this project include: (1) Stress tests of the cells under various stress conditions
revealed conditions providing the most severe degrading of different cell parameters; (2) Consecutive stress testing under different
bias revealed some reversible effects; (3) Preliminary analysis of the data obtained demonstrated a significant role of electromigration
of the charged defects/impurities; (4) Some new approaches for the cell characterization and the data analysis were developed
and checked experimentally; (5) New stress test experiments were planned for continued studies of degradation mechanisms.
NTIS
Cadmium Tellurides; Solar Cells; Electrochemical Cells; Photoelectric Cells; Photovoltaic Cells
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45
ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION
20010022467 Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS USA
Biomarker-Based Analysis for Contaminants in Sediments/Soil: Review of Cell-Based Assays and cDNA Arrays
Inouye, Laura S.; McFarland, Victor A.; Dec. 2000; 11p; In English
Report No.(s): AD-A385702; ERDC-TN-DOER-C19; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Microfiche; A03, Hardcopy
This technical note reviews the existing technology for cell-based biomarker assays and cDNA arrays and explores their
potential as rapid, sensitive, and low-cost tools for sediment/soil toxicity screening. The current project extends the application
of biomarker-based assays initiated in Technical Note DOER-C1 for dioxins and related compounds to additional sediment/soil
contaminants and contaminant modes of action (U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station 1998).
DTIC
Contaminants; Soils; Sediments; Assaying; Molecular Biology
20010023030 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
Temperature Trends in the TOVS Pathfinder Path A Data Set
Susskind, J., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA; [2000]; 1p; In English; Fall 2000 Meeting, 15-19 Dec. 2000, San Francisco,
CA, USA; Sponsored by American Geophysical Union, USA; No Copyright; Avail: Issuing Activity; Abstract Only
TOVS (Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder) is the suite of infra-red and microwave sounding instruments, including HIRS-2
and MSU, that have flown on the NOAA Polar orbiting operational satellites TIROS-N, NOAA 6-14 from November 1978 to
the present day. Data has been analyzed for the entire time period using a consistent methodology to produce twice daily per satellite
global fields of surface skin temperature, atmospheric temperature-moisture profile, cloud top pressure, and fractional cloud
cover, OLR and clear sky OLR, and precipitation. All parameters were found to depend on the orbit time of observation which
differed as a function of time both because of differing initial satellite orbits and orbit drift. This must be accounted for before
one can attempt to find trends in the data. Methodology to account for orbit drift will be shown. Trends will then be shown, over
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