scholarly journals Direct AFM-based nanoscale mapping and tomography of open-circuit voltages for photovoltaics

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1802-1808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Atamanuk ◽  
Justin Luria ◽  
Bryan D Huey
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Properties ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Individual Grains

The nanoscale optoelectronic properties of materials can be especially important for polycrystalline photovoltaics including many sensor and solar cell designs. For thin film solar cells such as CdTe, the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are especially critical performance indicators, often varying between and even within individual grains. A new method for directly mapping the open-circuit voltage leverages photo-conducting AFM, along with an additional proportional-integral-derivative feedback loop configured to maintain open-circuit conditions while scanning. Alternating with short-circuit current mapping efficiently provides complementary insight into the highly microstructurally sensitive local and ensemble photovoltaic performance. Furthermore, direct open-circuit voltage mapping is compatible with tomographic AFM, which additionally leverages gradual nanoscale milling by the AFM probe essentially for serial sectioning. The two-dimensional and three-dimensional results for CdTe solar cells during in situ illumination reveal local to mesoscale contributions to PV performance based on the order of magnitude variations in photovoltaic properties with distinct grains, at grain boundaries, and for sub-granular planar defects.

Simultaneous improvement of three parameters using a binary processing solvent system approach in as-cast non-fullerene solar cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (45) ◽  
pp. 25978-25984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoming Qin ◽  
Lianjie Zhang ◽  
Dong Yuan ◽  
Haiying Jiang ◽  
Wei Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
System Approach ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Solvent System ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Binary Solvent

A binary solvent approach simultaneously improves the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor, and finally elevates the as-cast photovoltaic performance.

Optical Simulation and Investigation of the Effect of Hysteresis on the Perovskite Solar Cells

NANO ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1950127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Jahantigh ◽  
S. M. Bagher Ghorashi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Hole Transport ◽  
Transport Layer ◽  
Hole Transport Layer

Perovskite solar cells have recently been considered to be an auspicious candidate for the advancement of future photovoltaic research. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 22% has been reported to be reached, which can be obtained through an inexpensive and high-throughput solution process. Modeling and simulation of these cells can provide deep insights into their fundamental mechanism of performance. In this paper, two different perovskite solar cells are designed by using COMSOL Multiphysics to optimize the thickness of each layer and the overall thickness of the cell. Electric potential, electron and hole concentrations, generation rate, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current and the output power were calculated. Finally, PCEs of 20.7% and 26.1% were predicted. Afterwards, according to the simulation results, the role of the hole transport layer (HTL) was investigated and the optimum thickness of the perovskite was measured to be 200[Formula: see text]nm for both cells. Therefore, the spin coating settings are selected so that a coating with this thickness for cell 1 is deposited. In order to compare the performance of HTM layer, solar cells with a Spiro-OMeTAD HTM and without the HTM layer in their structure were fabricated. According to the obtained photovoltaic properties, the solar cell made with Spiro-OMeTAD has a more favorable open-circuit voltage ([Formula: see text]), short-circuit current density ([Formula: see text]), fill factor (FF) and PCE compared to the cell without the HTM layer. Also, hysteresis depends strongly on the perovskite grain size, because large average grain size will lead to an increase in the grain’s contact surface area and a decrease in the density of grain boundaries. Finally, according to the results, it was concluded that, in the presence of a hole transport layer, ion transfer was better and ion accumulation was less intense, and therefore, the hysteresis decreases.

scholarly journals Benzothiadiazole Based Cascade Material to Boost the Performance of Inverted Ternary Organic Solar Cells

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miron Krassas ◽  
Christos Polyzoidis ◽  
Pavlos Tzourmpakis ◽  
Dimitriοs M. Kosmidis ◽  
George Viskadouros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Fused Ring ◽  
Electron Cascade ◽  
First Time

A conjugated, ladder-type multi-fused ring 4,7-dithienbenzothiadiazole:thiophene derivative, named as compound ‘T’, was for the first time incorporated, within the PTB7:PC71BM photoactive layer for inverted ternary organic solar cells (TOSCs) realization. The effective energy level offset caused by compound T between the polymeric donor and fullerene acceptor materials, as well as its resulting potential as electron cascade material contribute to an enhanced exciton dissociation, electron transfer facilitator and thus improved overall photovoltaic performance. The engineering optimization of the inverted TOSC, ITO/PFN/PTB7:Compound T(5% v/v):PC71BM/MoO3/Al, resulted in an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.34%, with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 16.75 mA cm−2, open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.74 V and a fill factor (FF) of 68.1%, under AM1.5G illumination. This photovoltaic performance was improved by approximately 12% with respect to the control binary device.

scholarly journals A Quarterthiophene-Based Dye as an Efficient Interface Modifier for Hybrid Titanium Dioxide/Poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) Solar Cells

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arumugam Pirashanthan ◽  
Thanihaichelvan Murugathas ◽  
Neil Robertson ◽  
Punniamoorthy Ravirajan ◽  
Dhayalan Velauthapillai
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Spectral Response ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Hole Mobility ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Acid Group ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Absorption Data

This work focused on studying the influence of dyes, including a thiophene derivative dye with a cyanoacrylic acid group ((E)-2-cyano-3-(3′,3′′,3′′′-trihexyl-[2,2′:5′,2′′:5′′,2′′′- quaterthiophene]-5-yl) acrylicacid)(4T), on the photovoltaic performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2)/poly(3-hexyl thiophene)(P3HT) solar cells. The insertion of dye at the interface improved the efficiency regardless of the dye used. However, 4T dye significantly improved the efficiency by a factor of three when compared to the corresponding control. This improvement is mainly due to an increase in short circuit current density (JSC), which is consistent with higher hole-mobility reported in TiO2/P3HT nanocomposite with 4T dye. Optical absorption data further revealed that 4T extended the spectral response of the TiO2/P3HT nanocomposite, which could also enhance the JSC. The reduced dark current upon dye insertion ensured the carrier recombination was controlled at the interface. This, in turn, increased the open circuit voltage. An optimized hybrid TiO2/P3HT device with 4T dye as an interface modifier showed an average efficiency of over 2% under-simulated irradiation of 100 mWcm−2 (1 sun) with an Air Mass 1.5 filter.

Simulation of InAIN/Si Single-Heterojunction Solar Cells Using wxAMPS

2014 ◽  
Vol 665 ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Xiao Ming Shen ◽  
Xiao Feng Wei
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Indium Content ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽  
Si Solar Cells

In this paper, InAlN/Si single-heterojunction solar cells have been theoretically simulated based on wxAMPS software. The photovoltaic parameters, such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, fill factor and conversion efficiency were investigated with changing the indium content and thickness of n-InAlN layer. Simulation results show that the optimum efficiency of InAlN/Si solar cells is 23.1% under AM 1.5G spectral illuminations, with the indium content and thickness of n-InAlN layer are 0.65 and 600nm, respectively. The simulation would contribute to design and fabricate high efficiency InAlN/Si solar cells in experiment.

Novel Linear and Hyperbranched Polythiophene Derivatives Containing Diketopyrrolopyrroles as Linking Groups

2015 ◽  
Vol 1771 ◽  
pp. 213-219
Author(s):  
Sheng-Hsiung Yang ◽  
Chia-Hao Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Fill Factor ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Properties ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Active Layers ◽  
Film State

ABSTRACTThe goal of this research is to synthesize novel linear and hyperbranched polythiophene derivatives containing diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as linking groups, and to investigate thermal, optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of those derivatives. Polymers with high regioregularity were synthesized via the Universal Grignard metathesis polymerization. Those linear or hyperbranched polythiophenes containing DPP bridging moieties showed higher molecular weights and better thermal stability compared with normal P3HT. The UV-vis absorption spectra of the DPP-containing polymers are similar to that of P3HT in film state, while they show distinct attenuation in fluorescent emission. Finally, all polymers were blended with PC61BM and used as active layers for fabrication of inverted solar devices. The devices based on those DPP-containing polythiophenes revealed the open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.55–0.58 V, the short-circuit current (JSC) of 8.62–16.21 mA/cm2, the fill factor (FF) of 36–41%, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.73–3.74%.

HYBRID ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS BLENDED WITH CNTs

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (06) ◽  
pp. 1550072
Author(s):  
SUDIP ADHIKARI ◽  
HIDEO UCHIDA ◽  
MASAYOSHI UMENO
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Device ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Walled Cnts

In this paper, composite carbon nanotubes (C-CNTs); single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) are synthesized using an ultrasonic nebulizer in a large quartz tube for photovoltaic device fabrication in poly-3-octyl-thiophene (P3OT)/ n - Si heterojunction solar cells. We found that the device fabricated with C-CNTs shows much better photovoltaic performance than that of a device without C-CNTs. The device with C-CNTs shows open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.454 V, a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 12.792 mA/cm2, fill factor (FF) of 0.361 and power conversion efficiency of 2.098 %. Here, we proposed that SWCNTs and MWCNTs provide efficient percolation paths for both electron and hole transportation to opposite electrodes and leading to the suppression of charge carrier recombination, thereby increasing the photovoltaic device performance.

Fabrication of Core-Shell Structured TiO2/MgO Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 787 ◽  
pp. 3-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Karuppuchamy ◽  
C. Brundha
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Core Shell ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
The Core ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

We demonstrated the construction and performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on nanoparticles of TiO2coated with thin shells of MgO by simple solution growth technique. The XRD patterns confirm the presence of both TiO2and MgO in the core-shell structure. The effect of varied shell thickness on the photovoltaic performance of the core-shell structured electrode is also investigated. We found that MgO shells of all thicknesses perform as barriers that improve open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the DSCs only at the expense of a larger decrease in short-circuit current density (Jsc). The energy conversion efficiency was greatly dependent on the thickness of MgO on TiO2film, and the highest efficiency of 4.1% was achieved at the optimum MgO shell layer.

scholarly journals Features of model thin-film solar cells photoelectric characteristics based on a non-toxic multi-component connection CuZn2AlS4

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250
Author(s):  
D. Sergeyev ◽  
K. Shunkeyev ◽  
B. Kuatov ◽  
N. Zhanturina
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Quantum Efficiency ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Current Voltage

In this paper, the features of the characteristics of model thin-film solar cells based on the non-toxic multicomponent compound CuZn2AlS4 (CZAS) are considered. The main parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill factor, efficiency) and characteristics (quantum efficiency, current-voltage characteristic) of thin-film solar cells based on CZAS have been determined. The minimum optimal thickness of the CZAS absorber is found (1-1.25 microns). Deterioration of the performance of solar cells with an increase in operating temperature (280-400 K) is shown. It is revealed that in the wavelength range of 390-500 nm CZAS has a high external quantum efficiency, which allows its use in designs of multi-junction solar cells designed to absorb solar radiation in the specified range. It is shown that the combination of CZAS films with a buffer layer of non-toxic ZnS increases the performance of solar cells.

scholarly journals Steady Enhancement in Photovoltaic Properties of Fluorine Functionalized Quinoxaline-Based Narrow Bandgap Polymer

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhonglian Wu ◽  
Huanxiang Jiang ◽  
Xingzhu Wang ◽  
Lei Yan ◽  
Wei Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fill Factor ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Hole Mobility ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Photovoltaic Properties ◽  
Narrow Bandgap

To investigate the influence of fluoride phenyl side-chains onto a quinoxaline (Qx) unit on the photovoltaic performance of the narrow bandgap (NBG) photovoltaic polymers, herein, two novel NBG copolymers, PBDTT-DTQx and PBDTT-DTmFQx, were synthesized and characterized. 2-ethylhexylthiothiophene-substituted benzodithiophene (BDTT), 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline (DQx) [or 2,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)quinoxaline (DmFQx)] and 2-ethylhexylthiophene (T) were used as the electron donor (D) unit, electron-withdrawing acceptor (A) unit and π-bridge, respectively. Compared to non-fluorine substituted PBDTT-DTQx, fluoride PBDTT-DTmFQx exhibited a wide UV-Vis absorption spectrum and high hole mobility. An enhanced short-circuit current (Jsc) and fill factor (FF) simultaneously gave rise to favorable efficiencies in the polymer/PC71BM-based polymer solar cells (PSCs). Under the illumination of AM 1.5G (100 mW cm−2), a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.40% was achieved with an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.87 V, a Jsc of 12.0 mA cm−2 and a FF of 61.45% in PBDTT-DTmFQx/PC71BM-based PSCs, while PBDTT-DTQx-based devices also exhibited a PCE of 5.43%. The excellent results obtained demonstrate that PBDTT-DTmFQx by fluorine atom engineering could be a promising candidate for organic photovoltaics.

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