1: “Those data in Fig. 7 show tentative progress towards reasonable conduction, with a significant increase on passivation of defects by hydrogenation.”
--> What does "increase on" mean? Does it mean "increase of"?
From context, I would say yes.2: “The small thicknesses (of layers) relax the requirements on carrier mobility within the films.”
--> Does this mean that the small thicknesses ease carrier mobility?
Yes3: I stumbled on the word "mesas" like in "1 mm2 mesas were defined on the sample surface before contacts were applied."
--> I can't find a definition in the context of photovoltaics and thin films. Any idea of what it means?
It could be that this is using the concept of the geological "mesa" {a flat-topped elevation with cliff like sides}to describe a slight difference in the surface.4: Do you know the difference between "cross-sectional plane" and "crystal plane"? Is it the same "plane"?
A "crystal plane" = A distinct plane in a crystal lattice, specified by Miller indices. "Cross-sectional plane" = one that is taken across the sample.5: Am I correct when I understand that "bulk"means "volume" when it's alone (not like in "bulk semiconductor" for example)?
This is not easy to answer. It seems that "bulk" may have a special meaning in this context, relating to the resistance of the conduction."So far, in such devices an incident photon is shifted in energy to a longer wavelength with the excess energy lost non-radiatively."
--> Can you explain "radiatively"?
"radiative" means the process of emitting radiant energy OR energy that is emitted in the form of waves or particles. This phrase seems to say the energy is not lost as waves but in some other way.