Q
difference between thin film vs semi-infinite slab
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The key difference between thin films and semi-infinite slabs lies in their geometrical and physical dimensions that affect various properties and phenomena, including heat transfer, optical properties, and electromagnetic wave interactions. Thin films are very slender layers of material, often only a few nanometers to micrometers thick, deposited on a substrate. They exhibit unique properties distinct from their bulk counterparts due to their reduced dimensionality, which significantly influences quantum and surface effects. On the other hand, a semi-infinite slab refers to a theoretical construct used in physics and engineering to model materials that are infinite in two dimensions and finite in the third. This approximation simplifies the mathematical treatment of problems by assuming that the thickness is large enough that edge effects are negligible, making it an ideal model for analyzing bulk material properties without considering size limitations. While thin films are crucial in microelectronics, coatings, and photovoltaics due to their unique surface interactions and quantum confinement effects, semi-infinite slabs are used in theoretical studies where surface effects are not the focus, allowing for a simplified understanding of bulk phenomena.
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