Improvement of the conversion efficiency of as-deposited Bi2S3/PbS solar cells using a CeO2 buffer layer

AbstractOver the last decade, nanotechnology and nanomaterials have attracted enormous interest due to the rising number of their applications in solar cells. A fascinating strategy to increase the efficiency of organic solar cells is the use of tailor-designed buffer layers to improve the charge transport process. High-efficiency bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells have been obtained by introducing hollow core polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers as a buffer layer. An improved power conversion efficiency in polymer solar cells (PSCs) was demonstrated through the incorporation of electrospun hollow core PANI nanofibers positioned between the active layer and the electrode. PANI hollow nanofibers improved buffer layer structural properties, enhanced optical absorption, and induced a more balanced charge transfer process. Solar cell photovoltaic parameters also showed higher open-circuit voltage (+ 40.3%) and higher power conversion efficiency (+ 48.5%) than conventional architecture BHJ solar cells. Furthermore, the photovoltaic cell developed achieved the highest reported efficiency value ever reached for an electrospun fiber-based solar cell (PCE = 6.85%). Our results indicated that PANI hollow core nanostructures may be considered an effective material for high-performance PSCs and potentially applicable to other fields, such as fuel cells and sensors.

Download Full-text

Graded Buffer Layer Effect on Performance of the Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.685.60 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 685 ◽

pp. 60-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shui Yang Lien ◽

Meng Jia Yang ◽

Yang Shih Lin ◽

Chia Fu Chen ◽

Po Hung Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Amorphous Silicon ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Thin Film Solar Cell ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Thin Film Solar Cells ◽

Silicon Thin Film

It is widely accepted that graded buffer layer between the p-layer and i-layer increase the efficiency of amorphous silicon solar cells. The open-circuit voltage (Voc), short current density (Jsc) and fill factor (FF) of the thin film solar cell are obviously increased. In the present study, hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film solar cells have been fabricated by 27.12 MHz plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). We discussed the three conditions at the p/i interface without buffer layer, buffer layer and graded buffer layer of thin film solar cells by TCAD software. The influences of the performance of the solar cell with the different buffer layer are investigated. The cell with graded buffer layer has higher efficiency compared with the cells without buffer layer and buffer layer. The graded buffer layer enhances the conversion efficiency of the solar cell by improving Vocand FF. It could be attributed to a reduction of interface recombination rate near the junction. The best performance of conversion efficiency (η)=8.57% (Voc=0.81 V, Jsc=15.46 mA/cm2, FF=68%) of the amorphous silicon thin film solar cell was achieved.

Download Full-text

Enhancement Mechanisms of the Power Conversion Efficiency for the P3HT:PCBM Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells with a LiF Cathode Buffer Layer Due to Thermal Annealing

Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals ◽

10.1080/15421406.2014.944756 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 602 (1) ◽

pp. 159-167

Author(s):

Qifeng Han ◽

Narayanasamy Sabari Arul ◽

Tae Whan Kim

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Power Conversion Efficiency ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Thermal Annealing ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Power Conversion ◽

Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽

Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽

Cathode Buffer Layer

Download Full-text

CuSCN as the Back Contact for Efficient ZMO/CdTe Solar Cells

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13081991 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1991

Author(s):

Deng-Bing Li ◽

Zhaoning Song ◽

Sandip S. Bista ◽

Fadhil K. Alfadhili ◽

Rasha A. Awni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Power Conversion Efficiency ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Power Conversion ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Full Potential ◽

Back Contact ◽

Cdte Solar Cells

The replacement of traditional CdS with zinc magnesium oxide (ZMO) has been demonstrated as being helpful to boost power conversion efficiency of cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells to over 18%, due to the reduced interface recombination and parasitic light absorption by the buffer layer. However, due to the atmosphere sensitivity of ZMO film, the post treatments of ZMO/CdTe stacks, including CdCl2 treatment, back contact deposition, etc., which are critical for high-performance CdTe solar cells became crucial challenges. To realize the full potential of the ZMO buffer layer, plenty of investigations need to be accomplished. Here, copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) is demonstrated to be a suitable back-contact material with multi-advantages for ZMO/CdTe solar cells. Particularly, ammonium hydroxide as the solvent for CuSCN deposition shows no detrimental impact on the ZMO layer during the post heat treatment. The post annealing temperature as well as the thickness of CuSCN films are investigated. Finally, a champion power conversion efficiency of 16.7% is achieved with an open-circuit voltage of 0.857 V, a short-circuit current density of 26.2 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 74.0%.

Download Full-text

Effect of BCP buffer layer on eliminating charge accumulation for high performance of inverted perovskite solar cells

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c7ra06365b ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (57) ◽

pp. 35819-35826 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Chuanliang Chen ◽

Shasha Zhang ◽

Shaohang Wu ◽

Wenjun Zhang ◽

Hongmei Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Power Conversion Efficiency ◽

Buffer Layer ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

High Performance ◽

Power Conversion ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Performance Degradation ◽

Device Performance ◽

Charge Accumulation

A power conversion efficiency of 17.9% has been obtained for the device with a critical BCP thickness of 5 nm. While if the BCP layer is too thin or too thick, charge accumulation will emerge and lead to device performance degradation.

Download Full-text