Arendse, ChristopherModiba, Fortunate Mofao2019-01-312024-10-302019-01-312024-10-302018https://hdl.handle.net/10566/16684>Magister Scientiae - MScSolar cells offer SA an additional energy source. While Si cells are abundantly available they are not at an optimal efficiency and the cost is still high. One technology that can enhance their performance is SiNW. However, material properties such as the diameter, porosity and length determine their effectiveness during application to solar cell technology. One method of growing SiNW uses Sn catalysts on a Si substrate. As the properties of the Sn nanoparticle govern the properties of the SiNW, this thesis investigates their formation and properties by depositing a Sn layer on a Si wafer and then subjecting it to different temperatures, during process the layer forms into nanoparticles. At each temperature the morphology, composition and crystallinity will be determined using XPS, SEM, TEM and EDS. Thus, in Chapter 1 there is an overview, Chapter 2 deals with techniques used in this study, Chapter 3 will give the quantitative and qualitative results on the XPS analysis and Chapter 4 will illustrate the structural behaviour of the annealed Sn film samples.enPhotovoltaic solar cellsSilicon nanowiresMetal catalystPhase diagramTinDepositionAnnealingX-ray photoelectron spectroscopyUniversity of the Western Cape