Spray-Ion Layer Gas Reaction (ILGAR)a Novel Low-Cost Process for the Deposition of Chalcopyrite Layers up to the Micrometer Range for Photovoltaic Applications†

Electrodeposition, which features low cost, easy scale-up, good control in the composition and great flexible substrate compatibility, is a favorable technique for producing thin films. This paper reviews the use of the electrodeposition technique for the fabrication of several representative chalcogenides that have been widely used in photovoltaic devices. The review focuses on narrating the mechanisms for the formation of films and the key factors that affect the morphology, composition, crystal structure and electric and photovoltaic properties of the films. The review ends with a remark section addressing some of the key issues in the electrodeposition method towards creating high quality chalcogenide films.

Download Full-text

An assessment of silver copper sulfides for photovoltaic applications: theoretical and experimental insights

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/c6ta03376h ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (32) ◽

pp. 12648-12657 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Christopher N. Savory ◽

Alex M. Ganose ◽

Will Travis ◽

Ria S. Atri ◽

Robert G. Palgrave ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Copper Sulfides ◽

Silver Copper ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

The Future

As the worldwide demand for energy increases, low-cost solar cells are being looked to as a solution for the future.

Download Full-text

Graphene Quantum Dots Open Up New Prospects for Interfacial Modifying in Graphene/Silicon Schottky Barrier Solar Cell

Energy Material Advances ◽

10.34133/2021/8481915 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Chao Geng ◽

Xiuhua Chen ◽

Shaoyuan Li ◽

Zhao Ding ◽

Wenhui Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Particle Size ◽

Schottky Barrier ◽

Low Cost ◽

Graphene Quantum Dots ◽

Separation Processes ◽

Band Bending ◽

Carrier Recombination ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots

Graphene/silicon (Gr/Si) Schottky barrier solar cells (SBSCs) are attractive for harvesting solar energy and have been gaining grounds for its low-cost solution-processing. The interfacial barrier between graphene and silicon facilitates the reducing excessive carrier recombination while accelerating the separation processes of photo-generated carriers at the interface, which empowers the performance of Gr/Si SBSCs. However, the difficulty to control the interface thickness prevents its application. Here, we introduce the graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) as a unique interfacial modulation species with tunable thickness by controlling the GOQDs particle size. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.67% for Gr/Si-based SBSC with outstanding stability in the air is obtained with the optimal barrier thickness (26 nm) and particle size (4.15 nm) of GOQDs. The GOQDs in Gr/Si-based SBSCs provide the extra band bending which further enhances the PCE for its photovoltaic applications.

Download Full-text

Development of a Utility Model for the Measurement of Global Radiation in Photovoltaic Applications in the Internet of Things (IoT)

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics8030304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 304 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rus-Casas C. ◽

Hontoria L. ◽

Fernández-Carrasco J.I. ◽

Jiménez-Castillo G. ◽

Muñoz-Rodríguez F.

Keyword(s):

Internet Of Things ◽

Electronic Device ◽

Low Cost ◽

Global Radiation ◽

The Internet ◽

Utility Model ◽

Incident Solar Radiation ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

The Internet Of Things ◽

The Ideal

In order to develop future projects in the field of photovoltaic solar energy, it is essential to accurately know the potential solar resources. There are many methods to estimate the incident solar radiation in a certain place. However, most of them are very expensive or do not have the ideal characteristics for good monitoring of a particular photovoltaic installation. For these reasons, an electronic device connected to the internet of things (IoT) is presented in this paper which manages to measure global radiation in photovoltaic applications. The device developed has been patented in the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office. It presents some features that make it very suitable to measure photovoltaic installations with the advantage of being a low cost and very reliable device. The device has been tested to determine global horizontal irradiance obtaining a correlation coefficient R2 = 0.994.

Download Full-text

Design of a Single-Phase Switched Boost Inverter With Important Potential of Conversion in Variable Conditions

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4049625 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Yehya Amari ◽

Mourad Hasni ◽

Sami Labdai ◽

Adel Mellit

Keyword(s):

Single Phase ◽

Simple Structure ◽

Low Cost ◽

Harmonic Distortion ◽

High Voltage Gain ◽

Voltage Quality ◽

Photovoltaic Applications ◽

Good Potential ◽

High Output Voltage ◽

High Output

Abstract In this paper, a single-phase switched boost inverter is proposed. Dividing converted sources is a very popular technique in recent years, as well as the demand for high output voltage quality by the use of a small number of switches. The analysis and simulation study revealed that this inverter has a good potential in terms of conversion quality (high voltage gain, low total harmonic distortion (THD), low cost, simple structure, and easy to control) and can be used in photovoltaic applications as well as in embedded systems. Experimental results verify the functioning principle of the presented topology but this new topology needs more improvements to reach exactly the simulation results.

Download Full-text