polycrystalline
Multiple crystal structure
Polycrystalline describes a solid material composed of many small crystals rather than a single continuous crystal structure.
The term appears most often in discussions of metals, ceramics, and semiconductors: polycrystalline silicon, polycrystalline diamond.
Solar panels commonly use polycrystalline cells, which are cheaper to produce than monocrystalline alternatives but slightly less efficient.
Metalloid in electronics
- ceramicFired clay material
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- alloyMetallic combination
- metalHard conductive solid
sapphire · diamond · graphite · alumina · zirconia · germanium · titanium · nickel
Small hard seeds
- textureSurface tactile quality
- anisotropyDirection-dependent property variation
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
coalescence · solidification · phases · orientation · dislocations · defects · twinning · recrystallization
Light-to-electricity converting
- thin-filmUltra-shallow material layer
- panelDistinct flat section
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- electronicsStudy of circuits
substrate · electrode · sensor · LED · transistor · capacitor · thermoelectric · piezoelectric
Powder consolidation by heating
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- waferThin crisp disk
- castingShaping through liquid form
sputtering · deposition · CVD · PVD · electrodeposition · consolidation · densification · forging
Permitting diffused light passage
- opaqueImpassable to light
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
- cloudyObscured by atmosphere
diffuse · transparency · turbid · nontransparent · milky
silicon
Metalloid in electronics
- ceramicFired clay material
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- alloyMetallic combination
metal · sapphire · diamond · graphite · alumina · zirconia · germanium · titanium · nickel · copper
grains
Small hard seeds
- textureSurface tactile quality
- anisotropyDirection-dependent property variation
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
nucleation · coalescence · solidification · phases · orientation · dislocations · defects · twinning · recrystallization · lattice
photovoltaic
Light-to-electricity converting
- thin-filmUltra-shallow material layer
- panelDistinct flat section
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
electronics · substrate · electrode · sensor · LED · transistor · capacitor · thermoelectric · piezoelectric · battery
sintering
Powder consolidation by heating
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- waferThin crisp disk
casting · sputtering · deposition · CVD · PVD · electrodeposition · consolidation · densification · forging · extrusion
translucent
Permitting diffused light passage
- opaqueImpassable to light
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
cloudy · diffuse · transparency · turbid · nontransparent · milky
polycrystallineamorphous
Without distinct shape
noncrystalline · glassy · vitreous · non-crystalline · disordered
crystal, crystallize, crystalline, poly, crystallography, crystallinity, monocrystalline, microcrystalline