Numerical Simulation of Single Junction InGaN Solar Cell by SCAPS

The performance of the InGaN single-junction thin film solar cells has been analyzed numerically employing the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D). The electrical properties and the photovoltaic performance of the InGaN solar cells were studied by changing the doping concentrations and the bandgap energy along with each layer, i.e. n-and p-InGaN layers. The results reveal an optimum efficiency of the InGaN solar cell of ~ 15.32 % at a band gap value of 1.32 eV. It has been observed that lowering the doping concentration NA leads to an improvement of the short circuit current density (Jsc) (34 mA/cm2 at NA of 1016 cm−3). This might be attributed to the increase of the carrier mobility and hence an enhancement in the minority carrier diffusion length leading to a better collection efficiency. Additionally, the results show that increasing the front layer thickness of the InGaN leads to an increase in the Jsc and to the conversion efficiency (η). This has been referred to the increase in the photogenerated current, as well as to the less surface recombination rate.

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Ge Solar Cells with Micro-Rod Arrays: Structural and Optical Properties

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ◽

10.1166/jnn.2021.19406 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 4347-4352

Author(s):

Yeojun Yun ◽

Kangho Kim ◽

Jaejin Lee

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Collection Efficiency ◽

Light Trapping ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Surface Recombination ◽

Chemical Vapor ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Atomic Diffusion

Ge single-junction solar cell structures are grown on micro-patterned Ge substrates using lowpressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. 300 nm high micro-rod arrays are formed on the p-Ge substrates using photolithography and dry etching techniques. The micro-rod arrays are designed with rod diameter varying from 5 to 15 μm and arranged in a hexagonal geometry with rod spacing varying from 2 to 12 μm. Ge p–n junction structures are fabricated by phosphorus atomic diffusion process on the micro-patterned Ge substrates. 100 nm thick InGaP window and 300 nm thick GaAs cap layers are grown to reduce the surface recombination and the ohmic contact resistivity, respectively. Our results indicate that the micro-rod structures improve the performance of the Ge solar cells. An improvement of 16.1% in the photocurrent of the Ge micro-rod solar cell is observed compared to that of a reference Ge solar cell with planar surface. The improvement in the short circuit current density can be attributed to the light trapping effect, enlarged p–n junction area, and enhanced carrier collection efficiency. As a result, the conversion efficiency of the Ge solar cell with micro-rod arrays (5 μm diameter, 2 μm spacing, and 300 nm height) is improved from 3.84 to 4.78% under 1 sun AM 1.5G conditions.

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The Influence of the Thickness of Compact TiO2 Electron Transport Layer on the Performance of Planar CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14123295 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 3295

Author(s):

Andrzej Sławek ◽

Zbigniew Starowicz ◽

Marek Lipiński

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electron Transport ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Precursor Solution ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Transport Layer ◽

Electron Transport Layer

In recent years, lead halide perovskites have attracted considerable attention from the scientific community due to their exceptional properties and fast-growing enhancement for solar energy harvesting efficiency. One of the fundamental aspects of the architecture of perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) is the electron transport layer (ETL), which also acts as a barrier for holes. In this work, the influence of compact TiO2 ETL on the performance of planar heterojunction solar cells based on CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite was investigated. ETLs were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates from a titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate) precursor solution using the spin-coating method with changing precursor concentration and centrifugation speed. It was found that the thickness and continuity of ETLs, investigated between 0 and 124 nm, strongly affect the photovoltaic performance of PSCs, in particular short-circuit current density (JSC). Optical and topographic properties of the compact TiO2 layers were investigated as well.

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CdTe-Based Thin Film Solar Cells: Past, Present and Future

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14061684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 1684

Author(s):

Alessandro Romeo ◽

Elisa Artegiani

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Early Years ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency

CdTe is a very robust and chemically stable material and for this reason its related solar cell thin film photovoltaic technology is now the only thin film technology in the first 10 top producers in the world. CdTe has an optimum band gap for the Schockley-Queisser limit and could deliver very high efficiencies as single junction device of more than 32%, with an open circuit voltage of 1 V and a short circuit current density exceeding 30 mA/cm2. CdTe solar cells were introduced at the beginning of the 70s and they have been studied and implemented particularly in the last 30 years. The strong improvement in efficiency in the last 5 years was obtained by a new redesign of the CdTe solar cell device reaching a single solar cell efficiency of 22.1% and a module efficiency of 19%. In this paper we describe the fabrication process following the history of the solar cell as it was developed in the early years up to the latest development and changes. Moreover the paper also presents future possible alternative absorbers and discusses the only apparently controversial environmental impacts of this fantastic technology.

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Enhancement of the performance of CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cell using TiO2/ZnO bi-layer ARC and V2O5 BSF layers: A simulation approach

The European Physical Journal Applied Physics ◽

10.1051/epjap/2020200213 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 20901

Author(s):

Abdul Kuddus ◽

Md. Ferdous Rahman ◽

Jaker Hossain ◽

Abu Bakar Md. Ismail

Keyword(s):

Solar Cell ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Heterojunction Solar Cell ◽

Back Surface ◽

Heterojunction Solar Cells

This article presents the role of Bi-layer anti-reflection coating (ARC) of TiO2/ZnO and back surface field (BSF) of V2O5 for improving the photovoltaic performance of Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based heterojunction solar cells (HJSCs). The simulation was performed at different concentrations, thickness, defect densities of each active materials and working temperatures to optimize the most excellent structure and working conditions for achieving the highest cell performance using obtained optical and electrical parameters value from the experimental investigation on spin-coated CdS, CdTe, ZnO, TiO2 and V2O5 thin films deposited on the glass substrate. The simulation results reveal that the designed CdS/CdTe based heterojunction cell offers the highest efficiency, η of ∼25% with an enhanced open-circuit voltage, Voc of 0.811 V, short circuit current density, Jsc of 38.51 mA cm−2, fill factor, FF of 80% with bi-layer ARC and BSF. Moreover, it appears that the TiO2/ZnO bi-layer ARC, as well as ETL and V2O5 as BSF, could be highly promising materials of choice for CdS/CdTe based heterojunction solar cell.

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

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13020450 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 450 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Donor-π-Conjugated Spacer-Acceptor Dye-Sensitized Solid-State Solar Cell Using CuI as the Hole Collector

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2019/1653027 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

D. N. Liyanage ◽

K. D. M. S. P. K. Kumarasinghe ◽

G. R. A. Kumara ◽

A. C. A. Jayasundera ◽

K. Tennakone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Solid State ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Electrical Power ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Type Semiconductor

Dye-sensitized solid-state solar cells (DSSCs) replacing the liquid electrolyte with a p-type semiconductor have been extensively examined to solve the practical problems associated with wet-type solar cells. Here, we report the fabrication of a solid-state solar cell using copper iodide (CuI) as the hole conductor and alkyl-functionalized carbazole dye (MK-2) as the sensitizer. A DSSC sensitized with MK-2 showed a solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiency of 3.33% with a Voc of 496 mV and a Jsc of 16.14 mA cm-2 under AM 1.5 simulated sunlight. The long alkyl chains act as a barrier for charge recombination, and the strong accepting and donating abilities of the cyanoacrylic and carbazole groups, respectively, enhance the absorption of light at a longer wavelength, increasing the short-circuit current density. The efficiency recorded in this work is higher than similar DSSCs based on other hole collectors.

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Preparation of the Three Main Layers of CdS/CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells Using a Single Vacuum System

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.378-379.601 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 378-379 ◽

pp. 601-605 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Saleh N. Alamri ◽

M. S. Benghanem ◽

A. A. Joraid

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Fused Silica ◽

Vacuum System ◽

Cdte Thin Film

This study investigates the preparation of the three main layers of a CdS/CdTe thin film solar cell using a single vacuum system. A Close Space Sublimation System was constructed to deposit CdS, CdTe and CdCl2 solar cell layers. Two hot plates were used to heat the source and the substrate. Three fused silica melting dishes were used as containers for the sources. The properties of the deposited CdS and CdTe films were determined via Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical transmission spectroscopy. An J-V characterization of the fabricated CdS/CdTe solar cells was performed under solar radiation. The short-circuit current density, Jsc, the open-circuit voltage, Voc, fill factor, FF and conversion efficiency, η, were measured and yielded values of 27 mA/cm2, 0.619 V, 58% and 9.8%, respectively.

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HYBRID ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS BLENDED WITH CNTs

Surface Review and Letters ◽

10.1142/s0218625x15500729 ◽

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.

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Effect of CdCl2 Treatment of CdS Films on CdTe/CdS Solar Cells

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-426-331 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 426 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

W. Song ◽

D. Mao ◽

L. Feng ◽

Y. Zhu ◽

M. H. Aslan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Spectral Response ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Photovoltaic Performance ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Cdcl2 Treatment ◽

The Difference ◽

Cds Films

AbstractWe investigated the effect of CdCl2 treatment of CdS films on the photovoltaic performance of polycrystalline CdTe/CdS solar cells. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the diffusion of S into CdTe is qualitatively the same for CdTe/CdS films fabricated with both as-deposited and CdCl2-treated CdS. A major difference was observed in the extent of Te diffusion into CdS for the two types of CdS films. Full conversion of CdS into CdS1-yTey; was observed for films prepared with asdeposited CdS, while the formation of the ternary phase was below the detection limit for films prepared with CdCl2-treated CdS. Photoluminescence measurements confirmed this result. The difference in interdiffusion leads to differences in optical transmission of CdS films and spectral response of CdTe/CdS solar cells. An increase of 2.7 mA/cm2 in short-circuit current density was observed as a result of improved spectral response in the wavelength range of 500–600 nm for the CdCl2-treated CdS.

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Novel Photonic Crystal Based Polycrystalline CdTe/Silicon Solar Cells

SRPH Journal of Fundamental Sciences and Technology ◽

10.47176/sjfst.3.1.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Photonic Crystal ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Current Density ◽

Cell Structure ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Short Circuit Current Density ◽

Silicon Solar Cells

In this paper, a novel photonic crystal (PhC) polycrystalline CdTe/Silicon solar cells are theoretically explained that increase their short circuit current density and conversion efficiency. The proposed structure consist of a polycrystalline CdTe/Silicon solar cell that a photonic crystal is formed in the upper cell. The optical confinement is achieved by means of photonic crystal that can adjust the propagation and distribution of photons in solar cells. For validation of modeling, the electrical properties of the experimentally-fabricated based CdS/CdTe solar cell is modeled and compared that there is good agreement between the modeling results and experimental results from the litterature. The results of this study showed that the solar cell efficiency is increased by about 25% compared to the reference cell by using photonic crystal. The open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, fill factor and conversion efficiency of proposed solar cell structure are 1.01 V, 40.7 mA/cm2, 0.95 and 27% under global AM 1.5 conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of carrier lifetime variation in the absorber layer of proposed solar cell on the electrical characteristics was theoretically considered and investigated.

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