Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to flexible photovoltaic modules that include a multi-layered substrate. In some embodiments, the multi-layered substrate includes one or more layers that are configured to improve the elastic modulus, rigidity, or stiffness of a flexible substrate of a flexible photovoltaic module during a deposition process step at an elevated temperature that is used to form the flexible photovoltaic module. The one or more layers of the multi-layered substrate may also provide improved barrier properties that prevent environmental contaminants from affecting the performance of a formed photovoltaic module, which includes the multi-layered substrate, during normal operation.

A sputtering target structure includes a body having a first side and an opposing second side. A first sputtering target is coupled to the first side of the body. The first sputtering target includes a first material. A second sputtering target is coupled to the second side of the body. The second sputtering target includes a second material. A rotation mechanism is coupled to the body and is configured to allow rotation of the body from a first orientation to a second orientation.

The present invention discloses a PVD coating process for producing a multifunctional coating structure comprising the steps of producing a HEA ceramic matrix on a substrate and the targeted introduction of a controlled precipitate structure into the HEA ceramic matrix to generate a desired specific property of the coating structure.

Provided are a crack-free laminated film and a structure including this laminated film. This laminated film includes: a buffer layer; and at least one layer of gallium nitride base film disposed on the buffer layer. Moreover, the compression stress of the entire laminated film is −2.0 to 5.0 GPa.

Provided is a hard coating film having excellent sand abrasion resistance. The present invention relates to a hard coating film (20) including a nitride containing Al and Cr as main components, the hard coating film (20) having a thickness of 6 μm or more.

An electronic device can include a housing component that can define an interior surface and an exterior surface of the device, a metallic film deposited on the interior surface and extending at least partially onto the exterior surface, and a ceramic film deposited on the exterior surface and at least partially over a portion of the metallic film on the exterior surface. The ceramic film can be in electrical communication with a portion of the metallic film deposited on the interior surface to form an electrical pathway from the exterior surface to the interior surface.

A coated tool for hot stamping of coated or uncoated sheet metals, comprising a coated substrate surface to be in contact with the coated or uncoated metal sheet, wherein the coating in the coated substrate surface comprises one or more inferior layers and one or more superior layers, where the inferior layers are deposited closer to the substrate surface than the superior layers, and: the inferior layers are designed for providing load bearing capacity, the superior layers are designed for providing galling resistance, at least one superior layer is deposited having a multi-nanolayer structure wherein: one type of nanolayer is composed of at least 90 at.-% of chromium and nitrogen, a second type of nanolayer is composed of at least 90 at.-% of titanium, aluminum and nitrogen, a third type of nanolayer is composed of at least 90 at.-% of vanadium carbon and nitrogen.

A bipolar plate for a PEM hydrogen fuel cell is coated with a carbon-containing coating, the carbon-containing coating comprising in order: a) a titanium seed layer; b) a titanium nitride interfacial layer; and c) a a-C top layer, and wherein the bipolar plate is formed from stainless steel. Methods for making such coated plates are described. The a-C has a density of greater than 2.0 g/cm3, a molar hydrogen content of 5% or less, an sp2 carbon content of 40% to 80% and an sp3 carbon content of 20% to 60%. The coated plates possess good electrical conductivity and are resistant to corrosion.

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensor includes a substrate, a diaphragm portion and a piezoelectric film. The diaphragm portion is located at the substrate. The piezoelectric film is located on the diaphragm portion. The piezoelectric film is made of scandium aluminum nitride. A carbon concentration of the piezoelectric film is 2.5 atomic percent or less while an oxygen concentration of the piezoelectric film is 0.35 atomic percent or less.

A magnesium alloy composite structure includes a magnesium alloy substrate, a zinc layer applied to the magnesium alloy substrate, a copper layer applied to the zinc layer, a nickel strike layer applied to the copper layer; an autocatalytic nickel layer applied to the nickel strike layer and a surface layer applied to the autocatalytic nickel layer. Various surface layers include Aluminum Titanium Nitride, Boron Nitride, Chromium Nitride, Titanium Nitride, Zirconium Nitride, Zirconium Oxide, Zirconium Oxycarbide, Titanium Carbide, Titanium Nitride and Diamond Like Carbon.