Abstract: A method of fabricating single-crystalline metal silicide nanowires for anti-reflective electrodes for photovoltaics is provided that includes exposing a surface of a metal foil to oxygen or hydrogen at an elevated temperature, and growing metal silicide nanowires on the metal foil surface by flowing a silane gas mixture over the metal foil surface at the elevated temperature, where spontaneous growth of the metal silicide nanowires occur on the metal foil surface, where the metal silicide nanowires are post treated for use as an electrode in a photovoltaic cell or used directly as the electrode in the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A method of fabricating quantum confinements is provided. The method includes depositing, using a deposition apparatus, a material layer on a substrate, where the depositing includes irradiating the layer, before a cycle, during a cycle, and/or after a cycle of the deposition to alter nucleation of quantum confinements in the material layer to control a size and/or a shape of the quantum confinements. The quantum confinements can include quantum wells, nanowires, or quantum dots. The irradiation can be in-situ or ex-situ with respect to the deposition apparatus. The irradiation can include irradiation by photons, electrons, or ions. The deposition is can include atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, MOCVD, molecular beam epitaxy, evaporation, sputtering, or pulsed-laser deposition.

Abstract: A method of fabricating quantum confinements is provided. The method includes depositing, using a deposition apparatus, a material layer on a substrate, where the depositing includes irradiating the layer, before a cycle, during a cycle, and/or after a cycle of the deposition to alter nucleation of quantum confinements in the material layer to control a size and/or a shape of the quantum confinements. The quantum confinements can include quantum wells, nanowires, or quantum dots. The irradiation can be in-situ or ex-situ with respect to the deposition apparatus. The irradiation can include irradiation by photons, electrons, or ions. The deposition is can include atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, MOCVD, molecular beam epitaxy, evaporation, sputtering, or pulsed-laser deposition.

Abstract: A variable-focus liquid lens is provided. The liquid lens includes a membrane and a fluid. The membrane is made of a transparent elastomer, and the fluid fills a predetermined space to contact at least a lens surface of the membrane. The membrane and the fluid are respectively made of materials repulsive to each other, for example, hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials or oleophilic and oleophobic materials. Accordingly, a repulsive force between the fluid and the membrane can prevent the absorption or leaking of the fluid into/through the membrane.

Abstract: A method of fabricating quantum confinements is provided. The method includes depositing, using a deposition apparatus, a material layer on a substrate, where the depositing includes irradiating the layer, before a cycle, during a cycle, and/or after a cycle of the deposition to alter nucleation of quantum confinements in the material layer to control a size and/or a shape of the quantum confinements. The quantum confinements can include quantum wells, nanowires, or quantum dots. The irradiation can be in-situ or ex-situ with respect to the deposition apparatus. The irradiation can include irradiation by photons, electrons, or ions. The deposition is can include atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, MOCVD, molecular beam epitaxy, evaporation, sputtering, or pulsed-laser deposition.

Abstract: A method of fabricating quantum confinements is provided. The method includes depositing, using a deposition apparatus, a material layer on a substrate, where the depositing includes irradiating the layer, before a cycle, during a cycle, and/or after a cycle of the deposition to alter nucleation of quantum confinements in the material layer to control a size and/or a shape of the quantum confinements. The quantum confinements can include quantum wells, nanowires, or quantum dots. The irradiation can be in-situ or ex-situ with respect to the deposition apparatus. The irradiation can include irradiation by photons, electrons, or ions. The deposition is can include atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, MOCVD, molecular beam epitaxy, evaporation, sputtering, or pulsed-laser deposition.

Abstract: A variable-focus liquid lens is provided. The liquid lens includes a membrane and a fluid. The membrane is made of a transparent elastomer, and the fluid fills a predetermined space to contact at least a lens surface of the membrane. The membrane and the fluid are respectively made of materials repulsive to each other, for example, hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials or oleophilic and oleophobic materials. Accordingly, a repulsive force between the fluid and the membrane can prevent the absorption or leaking of the fluid into/through the membrane.