Critical review on sputter-deposited Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) based thin film photovoltaic technology focusing on device architecture and absorber quality on the solar cells performance

CuInS2 (CIS) thin films have proven to be promising candidates for photovoltaic technology but still the cost and safety of their fabrication processes remain challenging topics for research and development.

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Innovative Device Architecture for High Efficiency Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2012.889 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1426 ◽

pp. 131-135

Author(s):

Mathieu Boccard ◽

Matthieu Despeisse ◽

Christophe Ballif

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Silicon Oxide ◽

Light Trapping ◽

Electrical Circuit ◽

Silicon Solar Cells ◽

Device Architecture ◽

Thin Film Silicon ◽

Photovoltaic Technologies

ABSTRACTThe challenge for all photovoltaic technologies is to maximize light absorption, convert photons with minimal losses to electrical charges and efficiently extract them towards the electrical circuit. For thin film silicon solar cells, a compromise must be found as light trapping is usually performed through textured interfaces, that are detrimental to the subsequent growth of dense and high quality silicon layers. We introduce here the concept of smoothening intermediate reflecting layers (IRL), enabling to combine high currents and good electrical quality in Micromorph devices in the superstrate configuration. After exposing the motivation for such structures, we validate the concept by showing a VOCenhancement when employing a polished silicon-oxide-based IRL. Shunting issues and additional reflection losses are pointed out with such technique, highlighting the need to develop alternative techniques for an efficient morphology adaptation before the microcrystalline silicon cell growth.

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A Review on Sputter Deposited CZTS based Thin Film Solar Cells

2018 International Conference on Computing, Power and Communication Technologies (GUCON) ◽

10.1109/gucon.2018.8674967 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Vinay Anand Tikkiwal ◽

Priyanka Kwatra ◽

Sajai Vir Singh ◽

Deeksha Chandola ◽

Harsheen Gandhoke

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Thin Film Solar Cells ◽

Sputter Deposited

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Progress and Perspectives of Thin Film Kesterite Photovoltaic Technology: A Critical Review

Advanced Materials ◽

10.1002/adma.201806692 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (16) ◽

pp. 1806692 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

Sergio Giraldo ◽

Zacharie Jehl ◽

Marcel Placidi ◽

Victor Izquierdo‐Roca ◽

Alejandro Pérez‐Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Critical Review ◽

Photovoltaic Technology

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Photonic and plasmonic crystal based enhancement of solar cells- overcoming the Lambertian classical 4n2 limit

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2012.1097 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1426 ◽

pp. 137-147

Author(s):

Rana Biswas ◽

Chun Xu ◽

Sambit Pattnaik ◽

Joydeep Bhattacharya ◽

Nayan Chakravarty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Light Trapping ◽

Infrared Region ◽

Plasmonic Crystal ◽

Device Architecture ◽

Back Reflectors ◽

Trapping Methods ◽

Normal Light

ABSTRACTLong wavelength photons in the red and near infrared region of the spectrum are poorly absorbed in thin film silicon cells, due to their long absorption lengths. Advanced light trapping methods are necessary to harvest these photons. The basic physical mechanisms underlying the enhanced light trapping in thin film solar cells using periodic back reflectors include strong diffraction coupled with light concentration. These will be contrasted with the scattering mechanisms involved in randomly textured back reflectors, which are commonly used for light trapping. A special class of conformal solar cells with plasmonic nano-pillar back reflectors will be described, that generates absorption beyond the classical 4n2 limit (the Lambertian limit) averaged over the entire wavelength range for nc-Si:H. The absorption beyond the classical limit exists for common 1 micron thick nc-Si:H cells, and is further enhanced for non-normal light. Predicted currents exceed 31 mA/cm2 for nc-Si:H. The nano-pillars are tapered into conical protrusions that enhance plasmonic effects. Such conformal nc-Si:H solar cells with the same device architecture were grown on periodic nano-hole, periodic nano-pillar substrates and compared with randomly textured substrates, formed by annealing Ag/ZnO or etched Ag/ZnO. The periodic back reflector solar cells with nano-pillars demonstrated higher quantum efficiency and higher photo-currents that were 1 mA/cm2higher than those for the randomly textured back reflectors. Losses within the experimental solar architectures are discussed.

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Comparison Between Al- and B-Doped Zno Window Layers For CuInSe2Thin Film Solar Cells

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-426-411 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 426 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

T. Nakada ◽

N. Murakami ◽

A. Kunioka

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Thin Film Solar Cells ◽

Device Performance ◽

Doped Zno ◽

Window Material ◽

Sputter Deposited ◽

First Time

AbstractA comparative study of several properties of ZnO:Al and ZnO:B films grown by magnetron sputtering has been performed. The influence of these window layers on device performance has also been investigated. Sputter-deposited ZnO:B films were used for the first time as a window material of CIS thin film solar cells. The short circuit current was improved by replacing ZnO:Al with ZnO:B window layers. A discussion of the issues relating to ZnO window layers for improving cell performance is presented.

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Mesoporous perovskite solar cells with Al- and Zn-based metal-organic frameworks

Journal of Physics Conference Series ◽

10.1088/1742-6596/2015/1/012042 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2015 (1) ◽

pp. 012042

Author(s):

A.D. Furasova ◽

G. Hix ◽

S.V. Makarov ◽

A. Di Carlo

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Metal Organic Frameworks ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Metal Organic ◽

Halide Perovskites ◽

Photovoltaic Parameters ◽

Photovoltaic Technology ◽

Lead Halide ◽

Thin Film Devices

Abstract The improvement of lead halide perovskites solar cells (PSC) by hydrophobic metal-organic frameworks (MOF) is one of the promising tools for modern photovoltaic technology to achieve stable and efficient thin-film devices. To show the MOF applicability for PSC, we incorporate two types of MOF: NH2-MIL-53(Al) and basolite Z1200 in n-i-p mesoporous MAPbI3 based solar cells that can add 2.2% efficiency by increasing main photovoltaic parameters. The simplicity of the proposed MOF’s integration allows to use and adopt this approach to incorporate other frameworks for thin-film perovskite devices.

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