Study of the Long-Term High-Temperature Structural Stability of RuAl Electrodes for Microelectronic Devices.

The high-temperature stability of RuAl-based electrodes for application in microelectronic devices is analyzed for long-term duration. The electrodes are prepared on Ca3TaGa3Si2O14 (CTGS) substrates using SiO2 and Al-N-O cover and barrier layers as oxidation protection. The samples are annealed at 600, 700, or 800 °C in air for 192 h. Minor degradation is observed after thermal loading at 700 °C. The annealing at 800 °C for 192 h leads to a partial oxidation of the Al in the extended contact pad and to a complete oxidation of the Al within the structured interconnect electrodes. The different degradation of the interconnect electrodes and the contact pads is caused by their different lateral dimensions. In summary, long-term high-temperature stability is demonstrated up to at least 700 °C in air. Less oxidizing atmospheres should allow the application at higher temperatures and for a significantly longer duration.

Mechanical Properties of ZTO, ITO, and a-Si:H Multilayer Films for Flexible Thin Film Solar Cells.

The behavior of bi- and trilayer coating systems for flexible a-Si:H based solar cells consisting of a barrier, an electrode, and an absorption layer is studied under mechanical load. First, the film morphology, stress, Young's modulus, and crack onset strain (COS) were analyzed for single film coatings of various thickness on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. In order to demonstrate the role of the microstructure of a single film on the mechanical behavior of the whole multilayer coating, two sets of InSnOx (indium tin oxide, ITO) conductive coatings were prepared. Whereas a characteristic grain-subgrain structure was observed in ITO-1 films, grain growth was suppressed in ITO-2 films. ITO-1 bilayer coatings showed two-step failure under tensile load with cracks propagating along the ITO-1/a-Si:H-interface, whereas channeling cracks in comparable bi- and trilayers based on amorphous ITO-2 run through all constituent layers. A two-step failure is preferable from an application point of view, as it may lead to only a degradation of the performance instead of the ultimate failure of the device. Hence, the results demonstrate the importance of a fine-tuning of film microstructure not only for excellent electrical properties, but also for a high mechanical performance of flexible devices (e.g., a-Si:H based solar cells) during fabrication in a roll-to-roll process or under service.

[Chronic peritoneal dialysis in infants--preliminary results of the multicenter survey]. / Przewlekla dializa otrzewnowa u niemowlat--wstepna analiza ankiety wieloosrodkowej.

We retrospectively analysed peritoneal dialysis treatment in 29 infants dialysed in 9 paediatric centres in Poland in the years 1993-2004. The mean age at the start of dialysis was 4.9 +/- 3.5 months (range 2 days to 11 months), mean body mass 5.6 +/- 2.5 kg (range 2.5 to 11 kg). The mean duration of PD was 6.8 +/- 3.9 in the first year of life and total duration of the therapy 34 +/- 27 months. Of the 29 infants 4 died (2 in infancy), 11 underwent renal transplantation, in 2 children PD was stopped (they received a conventional treatment) and 12 were still dialysed at the date of data collection. The peritonitis rate was 1/9.5 patient-month and exit site infection rate 1/16 patient-month up to 1 year of life. 9 children (31%) required hernia repairs and in 9 catheters were replaced. Chronic peritoneal dialysis in infants is associated with high risk of infections and surgical complications and remains a challenge for paediatric nephrologists.