scholarly journals Fabrication of the Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Film Solar Cell via a Photo-Sintering Technique

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Vu Minh Han Cao ◽  
Jaesung Bae ◽  
Joongpyo Shim ◽  
Byungyou Hong ◽  
Hongsub Jee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Secondary Phase ◽  
Band Gap Energy ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Solar Cell Performance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Electron Microscopes

Alternative photo-sintering techniques for thermal annealing processes are used to improve the morphology, layer properties, and enhance solar cell performance. The fast, nontoxic, low cost, and environmentally friendly characteristics of Cu2ZnSnS4 have led to its consideration as an alternative potential absorber layer in copper indium gallium diselenide thin film solar cells. This work investigates the photo-sintering process for the absorber layer of Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells. A Cu2ZnSnS4 layer was grown by hot-injection and screen-printing techniques, and the characteristics of the photo-sintered Cu2ZnSnS4 layer were evaluated by X-ray Diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopes. Overall, the optimal composition was Cu-poor and Zn-rich, without a secondary phase, estimated optical band-gap energy of approximately 1.6 eV, and enhanced morphology and kesterite crystallization. Using an intensity pulse light technique to the CZTS layer, fabrication of the solar cell device demonstrated successfully, and the efficiency of 1.01% was achieved at 2.96 J/cm2.

Chemical Composition Dependence of Cu2ZnSnS4 Absorbers Fabricated by Sulfurization of Thermal Evaporated Metal Precursors and Solar Cell Performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyuan Zhang ◽  
Sreejith Karthikeyan ◽  
Mandip J. Sibakoti ◽  
Stephen A. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Small Deviation ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Czts Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cell Performance

ABSTRACTWe investigate the synthesis of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films using thermal evaporation from copper, zinc and tin pellets and post-annealing in a sulfur atmosphere. The effects of chemical composition were studied both on the absorber layer properties and on the final solar cell performance. It is confirmed that CZTS thin film chemical composition affects the carrier concentration profile, which then influences the solar cell properties. Solar cells using a CZTS thin film with composition ratio Cu/(Zn+Sn) = 0.87, and Zn/Sn = 1.24 exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 483 mV, a short-circuit current of 14.54 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 37.66 % and a conversion efficiency of 2.64 %. Only a small deviation from the optimal chemical composition can drop device performance to a lower level, which confirms that the CZTS solar cells with high conversion efficiency existed in a relatively narrow composition region.

Direct Correlation of Solar Cell Performance with Metal Impurity Distributions in Polycrystalline Silicon using Synchrotron-Based X-ray Analysis

1998 ◽  
Vol 524 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. McHugo ◽  
A. C. Thompson ◽  
G. Lamble ◽  
A. MacDowell ◽  
R. Celestre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Polycrystalline Silicon ◽  
Current Method ◽  
Chemical State ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Metal Impurity ◽  
Solar Cell Performance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Absorption

ABSTRACTThe work presented here directly measures metal impurity distributions and their chemical state in as-grown and fully processed polycrystalline silicon used for terrestrial-based solar cells. The goal was to determine if a correlation exists between poorly performing regions of solar cells and metal impurity distributions as well as to ascertain the chemical state of the impurities. Synchrotron-based x-ray fluorescence mapping and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, both with a spatial resolution of lμm, were used to measure impurity distributions and chemical state, respectively, in poorly performing regions of polycrystalline silicon. The Light Beam Induced Current method was used to measure minority carrier recombination in the material in order to identify poor performance regions. We have detected iron, chromium, nickel, gold and copper impurity precipitates and we have recognized a direct correlation between impurity distributions and poor performing regions in both as-grown and fully processed material. Furthermore, from x-ray absorption studies, we have initial results, indicating that the Fe in this material is in oxide form, not FeSi2,. These results provide a fundamental understanding into the efficiency-limiting factors of polycrystalline silicon solar cells as well as yielding insight for methods of solar cell improvement.

scholarly journals Numerical Modelling Analysis for Carrier Concentration Level Optimization of CdTe Heterojunction Thin Film–Based Solar Cell with Different Non-Toxic Metal Chalcogenide Buffer Layers Replacements: Using SCAPS-1D Software

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer H. Zyoud ◽  
Ahed H. Zyoud ◽  
Naser M. Ahmed ◽  
Atef Abdekader
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Carrier Concentration ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Buffer Layers ◽  
Cds Thin Film

Cadmium telluride (CdTe), a metallic dichalcogenide material, has been utilized as an absorber layer for thin film-based solar cells with appropriate configurations, and the SCAPS-1D structures program has been used to evaluate the results. In both known and developing thin film photovoltaic systems, a CdS thin film buffer layer has been frequently employed as a traditional n-type heterojunction partner. In this study, numerical simulation was used to find a suitable non-toxic material for the buffer layer instead of CdS, among various types of buffer layers (ZnSe, ZnO, ZnS, and In2S3), and carrier concentrations for the absorber layer (NA) and buffer layer (ND) were varied to determine the optimal simulation parameters. carrier concentrations (NA from 2 x 1012 cm-3 to 2 x 1017 cm-3 and ND from 1 x 1016 cm-3 to 1 x 1022 ??−3) have been differed. The results showed that the CdS as buffer layer based CdTe absorber layer solar cell has the highest efficiency (?%) of 17.43%. Furthermore, high conversion efficiencies of 17.42% and 16.27% have been found for ZnSe and ZnO based buffer layers, respectively. As a result, ZnO and ZnSe are potential candidates for replacing the CdS buffer layer in thin-film solar cells. Here, the absorber (CdTe) and buffer (ZnSe) layers were chosen to improve the efficiency by finding the optimal density of the carrier concentration (acceptor and donor). The simulation findings above provide helpful recommendations for fabricating high-efficiency metal oxide-based solar cells in the lab.

scholarly journals Advances in low-cost and nontoxic materials based solar cell devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 2070 (1) ◽  
pp. 012043
Author(s):  
S S Hegde ◽  
K Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Tin Sulfide ◽  
Next Generation

Abstract Photovoltaics (PV) have become increasingly popular and reached as the third-largest renewable energy source. Thin-film solar cells made from earth-abundant, inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials are needed to replace the current PV technologies whose large-scale applications are limited by material and/or resource constraints. Near optimum direct optical bandgap of 1.3 eV, high absorption coefficient (>104 cm−1), less toxic, and abundant raw resources along with considerable scalability have made tin sulfide (SnS) as a strategic choice for next-generation PVs. In this review, limitations of leading commercial PV technologies and the status of a few alternate low-cost PV materials are outlined. Recent literature on crucial physical properties of SnS thin-films and the present status of SnS thin-film-based solar cells are discussed. Deficiency and adequacy of some of the key properties of SnS including carrier mobility (μ), minority carrier lifetime (τ), and absorption coefficient (α) are discussed in comparison of existing commercial solar cell materials. Future research trends on SnS based solar cells to enhance their conversion efficiencies towards the theoretical maximum of 24% from present ~5% and its prospectus as next-generation solar cell is also discussed.

Recent advances in flexible perovskite solar cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (79) ◽  
pp. 14696-14707 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Susrutha ◽  
Lingamallu Giribabu ◽  
Surya Prakash Singh
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Roll To Roll ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Reduced Dimension ◽  
Thin Film Photovoltaics

Flexible thin-film photovoltaics facilitate the implementation of solar devices into portable, reduced dimension, and roll-to-roll modules. In this review, we describe recent developments in the fabrication of flexible perovskite solar cells that are low cost and highly efficient and can be used for the fabrication of large-area and lightweight solar cell devices.

Advanced, Thin, Polycrystalline Silicon-Film™ Solar Cells on Low-Cost Substrates

1996 ◽  
Vol 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Hall ◽  
Allen M. Barnett ◽  
Jeff E. Cotter ◽  
David H. Ford ◽  
Alan E. Ingram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Polycrystalline Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Silicon Film ◽  
Silicon Layer ◽  
Thin Polycrystalline

AbstractThin, polycrystalline silicon solar cells have the potential for the realization of a 15%, lowcost photovoltaic product. As a photovoltaic material, polycrystalline material is abundant, benign, and electrically stable. The thin-film polycrystalline silicon solar cell design achieves high efficiency by incorporating techniques to enhance optical absorption, ensure electrical confinement, and minimize bulk recombination currents. AstroPower's approach to a thin-film polycrystalline silicon solar cell technology is based on the Silicon-Film™ process, a continuous sheet manufacturing process for the growth of thin films of polycrystalline silicon on low-cost substrates. A new barrier layer and substrate have been developed for advanced solar cell designs. External gettering with phosphorus has been employed to effect significant improvements leading to effective minority carrier diffusion lengths greater than 250 micrometers in the active silicon layer. Light trapping has been observed in 60-micrometer thick films of silicon grown on the new barrier-coated substrate. An efficiency of 12.2% in a 0.659 cm2 solar cell has been achieved with the advanced structure.

scholarly journals Numerical Modelling Analysis for Carrier Concentration Level Optimization of CdTe Heterojunction Thin Film–Based Solar Cell with Different Non–Toxic Metal Chalcogenide Buffer Layers Replacements: Using SCAPS–1D Software

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer H. Zyoud ◽  
Ahed H. Zyoud ◽  
Naser M. Ahmed ◽  
Atef F. I. Abdelkader
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Carrier Concentration ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Toxic Metal ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Buffer Layers ◽  
Cds Thin Film

Cadmium telluride (CdTe), a metallic dichalcogenide material, was utilized as an absorber layer for thin film–based solar cells with appropriate configurations and the SCAPS–1D structures program was used to evaluate the results. In both known and developing thin film photovoltaic systems, a CdS thin–film buffer layer is frequently employed as a traditional n–type heterojunction partner. In this study, numerical simulation was used to determine a suitable non–toxic material for the buffer layer that can be used instead of CdS, among various types of buffer layers (ZnSe, ZnO, ZnS and In2S3) and carrier concentrations for the absorber layer (NA) and buffer layer (ND) were varied to determine the optimal simulation parameters. Carrier concentrations (NA from 2 × 1012 cm−3 to 2 × 1017 cm−3 and ND from 1 × 1016 cm−3 to 1 × 1022 cm−3) differed. The results showed that the use of CdS as a buffer–layer–based CdTe absorber layer for solar cell had the highest efficiency (%) of 17.43%. Furthermore, high conversion efficiencies of 17.42% and 16.27% were for the ZnSe and ZnO-based buffer layers, respectively. As a result, ZnO and ZnSe are potential candidates for replacing the CdS buffer layer in thin–film solar cells. Here, the absorber (CdTe) and buffer (ZnSe) layers were chosen to improve the efficiency by finding the optimal density of the carrier concentration (acceptor and donor). The simulation findings above provide helpful recommendations for fabricating high–efficiency metal oxide–based solar cells in the lab.

scholarly journals Evaluation the Performance of CPV with Different Concentration Ratio

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Alaa H. Shneishil ◽  
Emad J. Mahdi ◽  
Mohammed A. Hantosh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fresnel Lens ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Solar Cell Performance

The present work aims at decrease the cost of the photovoltaic (PV) solar system by decreasing the area of expensive solar cells by low cost optical concentrators that give the same output power. Output power of two types’ monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar cells has been measured with and without presence of linear focus Fresnel lenses (FL) with different concentration ratios. Cooling system has been used to decrease the effect of temperature on solar cell performance. The results indicated that the increase in the output power is about 5.3 times by using Fresnel lens concentrator without using cooling system in comparison with solar cell without concentrator, while it is about 14.6 times by using cooling system. The efficiency of monocrystalline solar cell without cooling system is about 11.2% for solar irradiance 0.698 kW/m2, this value decrease to 3.3% for solar irradiance 12.4 kW/m2 and concentration ratio 17.7 by using Fresnel lens concentrator, while when using cooling system the efficiency enhance to 12.9% and 8.8% for solar irradiance 0.698 and 12.4, respectively.

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