Article
Energy & Fuels
Dipendra Pokhrel, Ebin Bastola, Kamala Khanal Subedi, Suman Rijal, Manoj K. Jamarkattel, Rasha A. Awni, Adam B. Phillips, Yanfa Yan, Michael J. Heben, Randy J. Ellingson
Summary: The study investigated the utilization of copper iodide nanoparticles as a hole transport layer in cadmium sulfide/cadmium telluride photovoltaics, achieving significant improvements in device efficiency and fill factor. Solar cells with a CuI/ITO back contact demonstrated photoconversion efficiencies of 11.6% under front illumination and 5.5% under back illumination.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zachary F. Lustig, Tushar Shimpi, Amit Munshi, Akash Shah, Blake Hill, Walajabad S. Sampath
Summary: This study investigated the effects of CuCl treatment process parameters on the performance of CdSexTe1-x/CdTe graded absorber photovoltaic devices. A statistically designed experiment was conducted to determine the significance of several factors, and regression models and mathematical prediction expressions were generated. Two out of the eight CuCl processing conditions yielded devices with an efficiency of 19%+, revealing new highly effective doping conditions for CuCl.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Prashun Gorai, Dmitry Krasikov, Sachit Grover, Gang Xiong, Wyatt K. Metzger, Vladan Stevanovic
Summary: In this study, a computational search was performed to identify candidate materials and their alloys for back contacts in CdTe solar cells. Several promising materials (AlAs, AgAlTe2, ZnGeP2, ZnSiAs2, and CuAlTe2) were found with improved properties compared to the commonly used ZnTe. These new material recommendations and guidelines provide new directions for hole transport layer design in CdTe solar cells.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xuxiang Guo, Guangcan Luo, Bo Tan, Jing Jiang, Wei Li, Jingquan Zhang
Summary: Highly efficient CdTe solar cells were fabricated with a composite back contact of rGO@CuSCN, prepared by solution processing. CuSCN served as a doping source and electron reflection layer, while rGO acted as a hole transport layer, resulting in reduced back barrier height and improved photovoltaic performance.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
E. Fernandez-Dominguez, G. Torres-Delgado, R. Castanedo-Perez, J. Marquez-Marin, O. Zelaya-Angel
Summary: The efficiency of Cd2SnO4/CdS/CdTe/CuxTe/Au structure solar cells was improved through thermal activation of the CdTe back contact interface, with the highest efficiency reaching 11.3%. All photovoltaic parameters were enhanced with RTA treatments, indicating the potential for obtaining higher area solar cells using this thermal treatment approach.
SUPERLATTICES AND MICROSTRUCTURES
(2021)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Ralph Stephen Hall, Dan Lamb, Stuart James Curzon Irvine
Summary: CdTe is currently the leading commercial thin film photovoltaic technology, but there is much potential for progress towards the Shockley-Queisser limit. Back contact optimization and material choice are critical factors in improving efficiency. Research has explored various back contact materials and processes to identify the most promising groups for further development. Comparisons are drawn with back contact materials used in other thin film photovoltaics like perovskites and kesterites.
ENERGY SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yonghua Wang, Gang Wang, Yufeng Zhou, Qiaomu Xie, Jinwei Chen, Kanghui Zheng, Lin Zheng, Jingong Pan, Ruilin Wang
Summary: This paper reviews and summarizes the doping research on CdTe thin film solar cells, highlighting the future directions of studying key impurity elements, optimizing doping precursors, and exploring new non-p-type doping elements.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dipendra Pokhrel, Xavier Mathew, Kamala Khanal Subedi, Aesha Patel, Adam B. Phillips, Ebin Bastola, Abasi Abudulimu, Manoj K. Jamarkattel, Suman Rijal, Abdul Quader, Jared Friedl, Zachary Zawisza, Yanfa Yan, Michael J. Heben, Randy J. Ellingson
Summary: Bifacial solar cells have the potential to maintain high energy output under unfavorable weather conditions. In this study, a solution-processed CuxCryOz back-buffer layer is demonstrated to improve carrier lifetime and increase short-circuit current and efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hafiz Tariq Masood, Shoaib Anwer, Syed Awais Rouf, Asif Nawaz, Tariq Javed, Tariq Munir, Lianxi Zheng, Wang Deliang
Summary: By utilizing hydrothermally synthesized WO3 nanosheets, a unique thin-film back contact was designed for CdTe solar cells, replacing traditional Cu contacts. The energy barrier at the WO3/CdTe interface was significantly reduced, resulting in improved performance of CdTe thin-film solar cells with WO3 NSs as a buffer layer.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dan Yang, Xiaohan Yin, Jingquan Zhang, Wei Li
Summary: Research findings suggest that a single back buffer layer has inherent defects, while a double- or multi-layer structure can compensate for these drawbacks and exhibit better performance. Based on energy band analysis and simulations, it is shown that reasonable alignment and carrier density are sufficient for most cases, with the need for additional layers only in extreme scenarios.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyu Li, Chengfeng Ma, Naiyun Liu, Chunxu Xiang, Shuxia Wei, Weibo Yan, Wei Huang, Hao Xin
Summary: Plasma treatment of the Mo substrate improves the efficiency of solution-processed CISSe solar cells by modifying the back interface and enhancing the absorber quality. The treatment increases the wettability of the substrate, resulting in more compact and uniform precursor film. It also reduces the thickness of the high resistive layer and decreases charge carrier recombination, leading to improved solar cell efficiency.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Biao Zhou, Fan Zhang, Junlin Zhang, Xiutao Yang, Kelin Li, Guanggen Zeng, Bing Li, Jingquan Zhang, Dewei Zhao, Iordania Constantinou, Xia Hao, Smagul Karazhanov, Lianghuan Feng
Summary: The study demonstrates that using perovskite back contact layers can significantly improve the efficiency of CdTe solar cells, mainly due to the reduced charge transportation barrier at the back contact. Additionally, perovskite also improves the overall uniformity of the solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kevin J. Prince, Christopher P. Muzzillo, Mirzo Mirzokarimov, Colin A. Wolden, Lance M. Wheeler
Summary: By utilizing cracked film lithography, an interconnected and defect-tolerant back-contact electrode network is formed, optimizing photocurrent and power conversion efficiency.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kevin J. J. Rietwyk, Xiongfeng Lin, Boer R. Tan, Tharindu Warnakula, Philippe Holzhey, Boya Zhao, Siqi Deng, Maciej A. A. Surmiak, Jacek Jasieniak, Udo Bach
Summary: Time-dependent Suns-V-OC and Suns-photoluminescence analysis were used to study two different structures of back-contact perovskite solar cells. The presence of a mesoporous TiO2 layer was found to reduce recombination and increase the open-circuit voltage. 2D time-dependent drift-diffusion simulations were able to explain the experimental results and revealed the significant impact of non-uniform ion distribution on the photoluminescence intensity and ideality factor.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Guangcan Luo, Dan Yang, Xuxiang Guo, Yinye Yang, Shengyun Luo, Jing Zhang, Mei Long, Li Xiang, Qinghong Li, Tengfei Wei, Wei Li
Summary: Composite materials based on reduced graphene oxide decorated with cuprous telluride nanoparticles (Cu2Te NPs@rGO) were fabricated to improve the photovoltaic performance of devices. Cu2Te NPs act as an active copper diffusion source to reduce recombination centers, while rGO functions as a buffer and carrier transport layer to enhance hole collection capacity. The Cu2Te NPs@rGO/Au back contacts significantly improved the photovoltaic performance.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qi-Wen Chen, Ze-Qing Guo, Jian-Ping Zhou
Summary: Multifunctional continuous solid solutions NFMTO-x were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method by controlling the ratio of Mg and Fe. The NFMTO-x materials exhibited enhanced visible light response, effective adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, CO2 methanation capability, and easy recyclability due to their magnetic properties. This research provides a significant multifunctional material for water purification.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
George E. Stan, Maziar Montazerian, Adam Shearer, Bryan W. Stuart, Francesco Baino, John C. Mauro, Jose M. F. Ferreira
Summary: Bioactive glasses have the ability to form strong bonds with tissues and release therapeutic ions. However, their biomechanical compatibility limits their use in load-bearing applications. The use of magnetron sputtering technology to fabricate BG coatings shows promise in improving their efficacy and potential for application.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhaoxuan Wang, Zhicheng Yan, Zhigang Qi, Yu Feng, Qi Chen, Ziqi Song, Meng Huang, Peng Jia, Ki Buem Kim, Weimin Wang
Summary: The corrosion behavior of Fe-60 and Fe-83 ribbons in 0.6 M NaCl was studied. Fe-60 exhibited a local corrosion mode and formed a stable passivation film with higher corrosion resistance, while Fe-83 showed a combination of local and global corrosion modes and had lower corrosion resistance. Controlling the precipitation of nanocrystalline phases and increasing the POx content in the passivation film significantly improved the corrosion resistance of Fe-based glassy alloys.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hao-Kai Peng, Sheng-Yen Zheng, Wei-Ning Kao, Ting-Chieh Lai, Kai-Sheun Lee, Yung- Hsien Wu
Summary: This study investigates the effects of high energy/fluence proton radiation on the performance of HfZrOx-based FeFETs memory with different Zr content. The results show that the characteristics of FeFETs are influenced by proton radiation, and the extent of the influence depends on the Zr content. FeFETs with 50% Zr content exhibit minimal changes in memory window and demonstrate good endurance and retention performance.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zongyi Yue, Guangyi Wang, Zengguang Huang, Sihua Zhong
Summary: In this study, AZO and ITO films were successfully tuned as excellent passivation layers for c-Si surfaces, achieving effective minority carrier lifetime and outstanding optical properties through the optimization of annealing temperature and interfacial silicon oxide.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Martin Hruska, Jan Kejzlar, Jaroslav Otta, Premysl Fitl, Michal Novotny, Jakub Cizek, Oksana Melikhova, Matej Micusik, Peter Machata, Martin Vrnata
Summary: This paper presents a detailed study on the hydrogen sensing capabilities of highly nanoporous black gold films. The films exhibit fast response and recovery times at low temperatures. Different levels of nanoporosity were prepared and tested to investigate the sensing properties, and it was found that nanoporous black gold is suitable for hydrogen sensing. The sensitivity of the film depends on its nanoporosity.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yupu Wang, Gaofeng Teng, Chun To Yiu, Junyi Zhu
Summary: In the study of BM-SCO and HSCO thin films, it was found that H vacancies tend to prefer sites near the external surface or oxygen vacancy channels (OVCs), while H interstitials prefer sites of oxygen on a layer that contains six-fold coordinated Co. These findings not only enrich the understanding of complex surface phenomena of defect formation but also provide an explanation for the reversibility during phase transformation.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiafeng Lu, Linping Teng, Qinxiao Zhai, Chunhua Wang, Matthieu Lancry, Ye Dai, Xianglong Zeng
Summary: In this study, we achieved full control of fiber nanograting orientation by manipulating laser polarization, and tailored space variant fiber nanogratings, which expanded the diversity in fiber nanograting engineering.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yibo Liu, Yujie Tao, Yue Liu, Qi Sun, Qinrong Lin, Kexin Kang, Qinghua Zhang, Qingjie Sun
Summary: This study investigates the wettability of the Ti-Cu-Fe multi-metal system, specifically the wetting behaviors of CuSi3 droplets on TC4 and 304SS plates. The results show that the CO2 + Ar gas atmosphere significantly affects interfacial mass transfer, thus influencing the wettability of the systems.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jimei Liu, Fei Wang, Rong Guo, Yuqi Liu, Mengyu Zhang, Jaka Sunarso, Dong Liu
Summary: This study developed Co/MXene composites with anti-corrosion properties by varying the cobalt content. These composites exhibited remarkable electromagnetic absorption performance and high resistance to corrosion under various corrosive conditions. The study also revealed the mechanism of electron transfer from cobalt to MXene and the electromagnetic dissipation behavior originated from polarization loss alone.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Moujie Huang, Yongsong Ma, Jingbo Yang, Lingyun Xu, Hangqi Yang, Miao Wang, Xin Ma, Xin Xia, Junhao Yang, Deli Wang, Chuang Peng
Summary: Strong metal-support interactions (SMSIs) are important for enhancing catalytic activities and stability in thermal catalysis. This study demonstrates a method to create SMSIs in electrocatalysis using carbon nanotubes and Ru nanoparticles, resulting in excellent catalytic activity and stability.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ravi Trivedi, Brinti Mondal, Nandini Garg, Brahmananda Chakraborty
Summary: This study explores the potential of biphenylene as a nanocarrier for the delivery of the anticancer drug cisplatin. It is found that biphenylene offers physical stability, rapid release rate, solubility, and bio-compatibilities compared to other nanocarriers. The adsorption of cisplatin on the surface of biphenylene involves charge transfer from cisplatin to biphenylene. The drug is shown to be released at body temperature in an acidic environment. Biphenylene also exhibits excellent cytotoxicity activity and cellular uptake of the drug. Overall, biphenylene shows promise as a potential nanocarrier for cisplatin delivery.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hyun Jeong, Hyeong Chan Suh, Ga Hyun Cho, Rafael Salas-Montiel, Hayoung Ko, Ki Kang Kim, Mun Seok Jeong
Summary: In this study, a potential platform to enhance Raman scattering and increase the number of observable Raman modes in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) was proposed. The platform consisted of large-scale arrays of gold micropillars (MPs), which were able to enhance the Raman intensity of TMDs and make difficult-to-detect Raman modes observable. The platform showed great industrial advantages and wide applicability due to its low cost, simple process, large controllable area, and short process time.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yasir Abbas, Shafqat Ali, Sajjad Ali, Waqar Azeem, Zareen Zuhra, Haoliang Wang, Mohamed Bououdina, Zhenzhong Sun
Summary: In this study, FeOx@SPNO-C core-shell nanospheres as a catalyst for degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) were successfully synthesized. The synergistic interaction between FeOx and SPNO-C, high carbon charge density, and the presence of C = O groups and N/Fe-Nx sites were found to be key factors for the enhanced degradation of SMX.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qiaoting Yang, Yuxiao Gong, Yan Qian, Zhou-Qing Xiao, Serge Cosnier, Xue-Ji Zhang, Robert S. Marks, Dan Shan
Summary: This study proposes a hierarchical confinement strategy to design Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) with satisfactory electrocatalytic ability and stability. The catalytic synthesis of PB NPs is achieved through a hydrothermal process, and the as-prepared PB@NH2MIL exhibits efficient electronic transmission and enhanced electrocatalytic properties.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2024)