Enhanced Performance and Air Stability of 3.2% Hybrid Solar Cells: How the Functional Polymer and CdTe Nanostructure Boost the Solar Cell Efficiency

CdTe is a very robust and chemically stable material and for this reason its related solar cell thin film photovoltaic technology is now the only thin film technology in the first 10 top producers in the world. CdTe has an optimum band gap for the Schockley-Queisser limit and could deliver very high efficiencies as single junction device of more than 32%, with an open circuit voltage of 1 V and a short circuit current density exceeding 30 mA/cm2. CdTe solar cells were introduced at the beginning of the 70s and they have been studied and implemented particularly in the last 30 years. The strong improvement in efficiency in the last 5 years was obtained by a new redesign of the CdTe solar cell device reaching a single solar cell efficiency of 22.1% and a module efficiency of 19%. In this paper we describe the fabrication process following the history of the solar cell as it was developed in the early years up to the latest development and changes. Moreover the paper also presents future possible alternative absorbers and discusses the only apparently controversial environmental impacts of this fantastic technology.

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Junction Configuration Effects on the Photovoltaic Parameters of a-Si/CZTS Solar Cells

10.20944/preprints202201.0163.v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

H. Bitam ◽

B. Hadjoudja ◽

Beddiaf Zaidi ◽

C. Shakher ◽

S. Gagui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Open Circuit Voltage ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Photovoltaic Devices ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Reported Study ◽

Stated Problem

Due to increased energy intensive human activities resulting accelerated demand for electric power coupled with occurrence of natural disasters with increased frequency, intensity, and duration, it becomes essential to explore and advance renewable energy technology for sustainability of the society. Addressing the stated problem and providing a radical solution has been attempted in this study. To harvest the renewable energy, among variety of solar cells reported, a composite a-Si/CZTS photovoltaic devices has not yet been investigated. The calculated parameters for solar cell based on the new array of layers consisting of a-Si/CZTS are reported in this study. The variation of i) solar cell efficiency as a function of CZTS layer thickness, temperature, acceptor, and donor defect concentration; ii) variation of the open circuit current density as a function of temperature, open circuit voltage; iii) variation of open circuit voltage as a function of the thickness of the CZTS layer has been determined. There has been no reported study on a-Si/CZTS configuration-based solar cell, analysis of the parameters, and study to address the challenges imped efficiency of the photovoltaic device and the same has been discussed in this work. The value of the SnO2/a-Si/CZTS solar cells obtained from the simulation is 23.9 %.

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Thin‐film solar cells exceeding 22% solar cell efficiency: An overview on CdTe-, Cu(In,Ga)Se2-, and perovskite-based materials

Applied Physics Reviews ◽

10.1063/1.5061809 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 041602 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Michael Powalla ◽

Stefan Paetel ◽

Erik Ahlswede ◽

Roland Wuerz ◽

Cordula D. Wessendorf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Thin Film Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency

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Water-soluble ZnSe/ZnS:Mn/ZnS quantum dots convert UV to visible light for improved Si solar cell efficiency

Journal of Materials Chemistry C ◽

10.1039/d0tc04580b ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hisaaki Nishimura ◽

Takaya Maekawa ◽

Kazushi Enomoto ◽

Naoteru Shigekawa ◽

Tomomi Takagi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Visible Light ◽

Solar Spectrum ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Si Solar Cell ◽

Si Solar Cells

The sensitivity of Si solar cells to the UV portion of the solar spectrum is low, and must be increased to further improve their efficiencies.

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Self-assembled propylammonium cations at grain boundaries and the film surface to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/c9ta01755k ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (41) ◽

pp. 23739-23746 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Chengbin Fei ◽

Meng Zhou ◽

Jonathan Ogle ◽

Detlef-M. Smilgies ◽

Luisa Whittaker-Brooks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Grain Boundary ◽

Grain Boundaries ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Film Surface ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Large Size ◽

Moisture Stability

Large size cation (PA) was introduced into the grain boundary and film surface of the 3D perovskite to improve the solar cell efficiency and moisture stability.

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Investigation of Indoor Stability Testing of Polymer Solar Cell

International Journal of Polymer Science ◽

10.1155/2016/7268197 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pelin Kavak ◽

Elif Alturk Parlak

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Organic Solar Cell ◽

Polymer Solar Cell ◽

Stability Testing ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Photocurrent Generation ◽

The Stability ◽

First Time

We have fabricated organic solar cell of a new low bandgap polymer poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-4,7-bis(2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-5′,5′′-diyl] (PCPDTTBTT). We have investigated for the first time the stability tests, ISOS-L-1 and ISOS-D-3, of PCPDTTBTT solar cells. Thermal annealing of PCPDTTBTT solar cells at 80°C brought about an improvement of photocurrent generation, stability, and efficiency of the solar cells. T80 value of PCPDTTBTT solar cell is about 150 hours which is close to P3HT (235 h). PCPDTTBTT is very promising polymer for both polymer solar cell efficiency and stability.

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The influence of the mesoporous TiO2 scaffold on the performance of methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite solar cells: charge injection, charge recombination and solar cell efficiency relationship

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/c5ta06041a ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (44) ◽

pp. 22154-22161 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Alba Matas Adams ◽

Jose Manuel Marin-Beloqui ◽

Georgiana Stoica ◽

Emilio Palomares

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Charge Recombination ◽

Mesoporous Tio2 ◽

Lead Iodide ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Carrier Recombination ◽

Recombination Kinetics

This works shows the influence of the mesoporous TiO2 nature over the carrier recombination kinetics and the perovskite efficiency.

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Water as infrared filter for silicon solar cell efficiency enhancement for Kerman province of Iran as a talent region for solar energy production

World Journal of Engineering ◽

10.1108/wje-12-2016-0165 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 363-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammad Bagher Askari ◽

Mohammad Reza Bahrampour ◽

Vahid Mirzaei ◽

Amir Khosro Beheshti Marnani ◽

Mirhabibi Mohsen

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Energy Production ◽

Silicon Solar Cell ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Efficiency Enhancement ◽

Content Type ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency

Purpose The aim of this paper is to apply a watery infrared filter for silicon solar cell efficiency enhancement in Kerman province of Iran as a talent region for solar energy production. Design/methodology/approach With this research, the water is applied as a filter for silicon solar cells in different volumes and thicknesses. Findings The obtained results showed that using various amounts of water could be a suitable choice for increasing the efficiency of silicon solar cells. Originality/value Other wavelength regions just cause the increase in the entropy and decrease in the efficiency. With this research, the water is applied as a filter for silicon solar cell in different volumes and thickness. The obtained results showed that using different thicknesses of water could be suitable choice for increasing the efficiency of silicon solar cell.

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The Business of Fast ALD Equipment for Depositing Alumina Passivation Layers on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2011.1497 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1353 ◽

Author(s):

Ad Vermeer ◽

Roger Gortzen ◽

P. Poodt ◽

F. Roozeboom

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

High Throughput ◽

Crystalline Silicon ◽

Atomic Layer ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Alumina Layer ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Cell Efficiency

ABSTRACTAtomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a gas phase deposition technique for depositing very high quality thin films with an unsurpassed conformality. The main drawback of ALD however is the very low deposition rate (~ 1 nm/min). Recently, record deposition rates for alumina of up to 1 nm/s were reached using spatial ALD, while maintaining the typical assets regarding film quality as obtained by conventional, slow ALD [1]. This allows for ALD at high throughput numbers.One interesting application is passivation of crystalline silicon solar cells. Applying a thin alumina layer is reported to increase solar cell efficiency and enables the use of thinner wafers, thus reducing the main cost factor [2]. In this paper we report on the latest progress made by SoLayTec that delivered a working prototype of a system realizing full area single sided deposition of alumina on 156 x 156 mm2, mono- and multi crystalline silicon wafers for solar cell applications. The alumina layers showed excellent passivation. Based on this concept, a high-throughput ALD deposition tool is being developed targeting throughput numbers of up to 3000 wafers/hr. Finally, we report on the process of commercializing this technology.

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The Effect of Eriochrome Black T Concentrations on the Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Asian Journal of Research and Reviews in Physics ◽

10.9734/ajr2p/2018/v1i324624 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Moutasim Ali Ahmed ◽

M. Dirar ◽

Mohamed A. Siddig ◽

S. M. H. Abdalsakhi

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Glass Substrate ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Medical Science ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Eriochrome Black T ◽

Ito Glass

Aims: To investigate The effect of concentration on organic solar cell efficiency. Study Design: Polymer and natural dye Eriochrome black T were deposited on ITO glass substrate, and then the resulted cells were tested for characteristics. Place and Duration of Study: International University of Africa Faculty of Pure and applied science-Department of Physics collaboration with University Medical Science and Technology- Alawia Centre and AlNilain University – Faculty of Science and Technology – Department of Physics, between March 2016 and May 2017. Methodology: we have dye of different colour, we select three colours the dye, and then UV-visible spectrometer used for absorption spectra. After that, the relation between absorption and wavelength, absorption coefficient, and energy band gap were found graphically. Finally, cells were designed on ITO glass substrate by using spin coating deposition. Characteristics measured. Results: The relation between the Eriochrome black T concentration of dye for three samples are 6.67, 6.03, and 5.43 g/L, and the corresponding efficiencies for dark blue are 0.091, 0.090 and 0.229 respectively. The efficiencies of yellow Eriochrome Black T are 0.228, 0.193 and 0.181. And the efficiencies of red Eriochrome Black T are 0.246, 0.235 and 0.193. The decreases of efficiency due to the decreases of Eriochrome Black T concentration is related to the direct relation between Eriochrome Black T concentration and solar cell. Conclusion: The efficiency of dye-sensitised solar cells can be increased by increasing the Eriochrome Black T dye concentrations at least within the examined range. The Eriochrome Black T dye type also affect efficiency. This includes the transparency of the Eriochrome Black T dye beside the value of the Fermi energy. In addition to the relative positions of highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbits (LUMO) to nearby layers.

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