Raster Scanning Laser and UV Processing of nanocrystalline TiO2 Films for Sintering in Dye Solar Cells: Device Performance, Throughput and Embodied Energy

2012 ◽  
Vol 1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girolamo Mincuzzi ◽  
Valerio Zardetto ◽  
Luigi Vesce ◽  
Malte Schulz-Ruhtenberg ◽  
Arnold Gillner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Nanocrystalline Tio2 ◽  
Plastic Substrates ◽  
Dye Solar Cells ◽  
Uv Lamp

ABSTRACTA crucial step in Dye Solar Cell (DSC) fabrication is the sintering of the TiO2 layer which needs to guarantee good electromechanical bonding between nanoparticles whilst maintaining sufficiently large porosity to yield performing devices. The standard procedure for TiO2 sintering requires firing in an oven at ∼ 500°C. An alternative procedure consists in utilizing laser scanning processing which has the advantageous potential of being noncontact, local, low cost, rapid, selective, automated and scalable. We analyzed and optimised a laser process for the sintering of the TiO2 layers in dye solar cells analyzing temperature profiles, throughput and the embodied energy. The development of electronic and photovoltaic devices on plastic substrates is of considerable interest due to the advantages they bring in terms of flexibility and easy processing for lightweight, low-cost large-area applications. An alternative sintering procedure compatible with flexible substrates and large area processing consists in utilizing a UV lamp. We subjected TiO2 pastes deposited on conductive transparent substrates to UV irradiation. Fully plastic devices fabricated through this method showed efficiencies of 4%.

Low-Cost, Large-Area Nanocrystalline TiO2 -Polymer Solar Cells on Flexible Plastics

2002 ◽  
Vol 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna C. Mandal ◽  
Anton Smirnov ◽  
D. Peramunage ◽  
R. David Rauh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Film Deposition ◽  
Star Polymer ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Nanocrystalline Tio2 ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Lamination Process

ABSTRACTThis paper describes our recent research on the development of fully flexible and low-cost dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells (DSSC). At EIC Laboratories, we have developed various large-area solid-state versions, which include both ionically, and hole-conducting allpolymer DSSCs made by continuous coating and lamination process. Various critical steps involve ∼10 micron thick nanocrystalline TiO2 film deposition on conducting PET plastics by various methods such as spraying, spin coating, and screen printing, a low temperature sintering (∼150°C) process, and polymer laminated electrolyte have been demonstrated as valuable active components. The photovoltaic (PV) performance presented in this paper show the fabricated solar cells of ∼1.2 cm2 area with reproducible AM1.5 (Air Mass 1.5) efficiencies of 4.7%. A prototype solar cell with a new hole conducting star polymer with AM 1.5 efficiency ∼2.12% has been thoroughly characterized and discussed.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Built on Plastic Substrates by Low-Temperature Preparation of Semiconductor Films

2010 ◽  
Vol 451 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Miyasaka
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Semiconductor Films ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Plastic Substrates ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Low Temperature Preparation ◽  
Plastic Solar Cells

Printable materials and technologies to realize low-cost dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated on thin plastic substrates are reviewed. Mesoscopic conductive materials and pastes that enable low-temperature coating of electrochemically active films for photoanode and conterelectrode are described in aspects of material preparation, electrochemical and photovoltaic behavior, and stability of the plastic electrode. Performance of plastic solar cells and modules are discussed with respects to the structure and thickness of the non-sintered mesoporous films, light-harvesting functions of dyes, and optimization of electrolyte compositions. Commercial advantages of the lightweight, flexible cell in power generation are also introduced based on proof-of-concept tests with large-area modules.

A novel low cost texturization method for large area commercial mono-crystalline silicon solar cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (20) ◽  
pp. 3557-3567 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Gangopadhyay ◽  
K.H. Kim ◽  
S.K. Dhungel ◽  
U. Manna ◽  
P.K. Basu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

scholarly journals Economic pulse electrodeposition for flexible CuInSe2 solar cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreekanth Mandati ◽  
Prashant Misra ◽  
Divya Boosagulla ◽  
Tata Naransinga Rao ◽  
Bulusu V. Sarada
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrode System ◽  
Pulse Electrodeposition ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Complexing Agents ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Advanced Technique ◽  
Glass Substrates ◽  
Energy Applications

Abstract Electrodeposition is one of the leading non-vacuum techniques for the fabrication of CuInSe2 (CIS)-based solar cells. In the present work, pulse electrodeposition, an advanced technique, is utilized effectively for CIS absorber preparation devoid of any additives/complexing agents. An economic pulse electrodeposition is employed for the deposition of Cu/In stack followed by selenization to fabricate CIS absorbers on flexible and glass substrates. The approach uses a two-electrode system suitable for large area deposition and utilizes the fundamentals of pulse electrodeposition with appropriate optimization of parameters to obtain smooth Cu/In precursors. The selenized CIS absorbers are of 1 µm thick while possessing copper-poor composition (Cu/In ≈ 0.9) and tetragonal chalcopyrite phase. The fabricated devices have exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 5.2%. The technique can be further improved to obtain low-cost CIS solar cells which are suitable for various small-scale energy applications.

Low-cost solar cells based on large-area unconventional silicon

1977 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fischer ◽  
W. Pschunder
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Large Area

Amorphous Silicon, Microcrystalline Silicon, and Thin-Film Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruud E.I. Schropp ◽  
Reinhard Carius ◽  
Guy Beaucarne
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Float Glass ◽  
Film Material ◽  
Microcrystalline Silicon ◽  
Plastic Substrates ◽  
Thin Film Silicon ◽  
Amorphous Si

AbstractThin-film solar cell technologies based on Si with a thickness of less than a few micrometers combine the low-cost potential of thin-film technologies with the advantages of Si as an abundantly available element in the earth's crust and a readily manufacturable material for photovoltaics (PVs). In recent years, several technologies have been developed that promise to take the performance of thin-film silicon PVs well beyond that of the currently established amorphous Si PV technology. Thin-film silicon, like no other thin-film material, is very effective in tandem and triple-junction solar cells. The research and development on thin crystalline silicon on foreign substrates can be divided into two different routes: a low-temperature route compatible with standard float glass or even plastic substrates, and a high-temperature route (>600°C). This article reviews the material properties and technological challenges of the different thin-film silicon PV materials.

Novel low cost chemical texturing for very large area industrial multi-crystalline silicon solar cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 938-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
U Gangopadhyay ◽  
S K Dhungel ◽  
K Kim ◽  
U Manna ◽  
P K Basu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

CdTe Thin-Film Solar Cells

MRS Bulletin ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 45-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Suntola
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Cadmium Telluride ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thick Layer ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Cdte Thin Film ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Cell Structures

Cadmium telluride is currently the most promising material for high efficiency, low-cost thin-film solar cells. Cadmium telluride is a compound semiconductor with an ideal 1.45 eV bandgap for direct light-to-electricity conversion. The light absorption coefficient of CdTe is high enough to make a one-micrometer-thick layer of material absorb over 99% of the visible light. Processing homogenous polycrystalline thin films seems to be less critical for CdTe than for many other compound semiconductors. The best small-area CdTe thin-film cells manufactured show more than 15% conversion efficiency. Large-area modules with aperture efficiencies in excess of 10% have also been demonstrated. The long-term stability of CdTe solar cell structures is not known in detail or in the necessary time span. Indication of good stability has been demonstrated. One of the concerns about CdTe solar cells is the presence of cadmium which is an environmentally hazardous material.

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