Abstract: A carbon protective film of a magnetic recording medium includes a surface region having a high nitrogen concentration. The nitrogen-doped surface region enhances surface energy and improves wettability of the protective film with a liquid lubricant. The nitrogen is implanted by plasma treatment to produce a surface region in the protective film that includes from 6 to 20 at % of nitrogen in the surface region within 30 Å from the film surface. The treatment reduces the contact angle of the film surface with water to the range from of 10 to 30 degrees.

Abstract: A solar cell module and method of manufacture in which the cell has a transparent substrate, an overlying transparent electrode, a layer of amorphous silicon and a metal electrode. Adjacent cells are connected in series by using a laser to divide the transparent electrode into strips and similarly dividing the metal electrode into overlying strips to define gaps between adjacent strips, with the layer of amorphous silicon lying across the gaps. That overlying portion is then crystallized by a laser beam so as to form a connection between the transparent electrode of one strip and the metal electrode of an adjacent strip.

Abstract: A solar battery having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements connected in series. Each element consists of a transparent electrode layer, a non-crystalline semiconductor layer and a metal electrode layer laid one upon another in the stated order. In one embodiment, a site comprising a polycrystalline region is provided in the non-crystalline semiconductor. A conductive element sandwiches the transparent electrode between it and said non-crystalline material directly beneath said site. In another embodiment, a void which is filled with metal from said metal electrode layer connects the metal electrode layer and the underlying transparent electrode. Methods of manufacturing the solar battery including laser irradiation to form the polycrystalline region or void are disclosed.