Abstract: A method of forming a thermal barrier coating is disclosed. The method may include providing a solution containing strontium and niobium and applying the solution to a substrate via a chemical solution deposition process to form a first film layer on the substrate. The method may further include pyrolyzing the first film layer and annealing the first film in an air atmosphere to form a strontium niobate coating.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system described herein includes a first group of photovoltaic modules that comprises a first plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules. A second group of photovoltaic modules comprises a second plurality of microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules, wherein the first group of photovoltaic modules are electrically connected in parallel to the second group of photovoltaic modules.

Abstract: A process for planarizing a substrate involves applying a coating of a first solution of yttrium oxide precursor to a rough substrate surface and heating to remove solvent and convert the yttrium oxide precursor to yttrium oxide. This is repeated with the first solution and then with the second solution. A final surface roughness less than 1 nm RMS may be obtained. In addition, a process for preparing a layered structure includes solution deposition planarization of a rough substrate using different concentrations of metal oxide precursor to provide a metal oxide surface having a surface roughness, and then depositing MgO by IBAD (ion beam assisted deposition). A benefit of a better in plane MgO texture was observed for lower molarities, and when two solutions of different concentrations was employed for coating the rough substrate prior to IBAD-MgO.