Article
Energy & Fuels
Juergen Huepkes, Uwe Rau, Thomas Kirchartz
Summary: This study investigates the impact of electrostatics on device performance for classical solar cells and perovskite solar cells through numerical simulations. It emphasizes the importance of permittivity variations on device efficiency and proposes the principle of optimizing device design by minimizing volume and selecting charge transport layers with adapted permittivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matteo Degani, Qingzhi An, Miguel Albaladejo-Siguan, Yvonne J. Hofstetter, Changsoon Cho, Fabian Paulus, Giulia Grancini, Yana Vaynzof
Summary: This study presents a dual interfacial modification approach by incorporating large organic cations at both the bottom and top interfaces of the perovskite active layer, leading to simultaneous improvement in both open-circuit voltage and fill factor of the devices, reaching a champion device efficiency of 23.7%. This dual interfacial modification is fully compatible with bulk modification of the perovskite active layer by ionic liquids, resulting in efficient and stable inverted architecture devices.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Akmal Kamarudin, Shahrir Razey Sahamir, Kohei Nishimura, Satoshi Iikubo, Kenji Yoshino, Takashi Minemoto, Qing Shen, Shuzi Hayase
Summary: The research focuses on improving the performance of lead-free tin-based perovskite solar cells by using A-site cation substitution with DMAI salt. The optimized concentration of DMAI enhances the solar cell's performance, leading to higher open-circuit voltage, better surface morphology, higher built-in potential, and suppressed tin oxidation, which in turn reduces the hole carrier density.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jin Peng, Qiaofeng Wu, Hongming Hou, Taotao Hu, Yue Huang, Xudong Cai, Wenjie Luo, Xin Chen, Hua Yu
Summary: The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells is mainly affected by the energy level mismatch and unfavorable interfacial reaction between nickel oxide (NiOx) and organic cations of the perovskite. This study introduces interlayer engineering using dual-functional alkaline hypophosphite to address these issues. The use of alkaline hypophosphite increases the valence band maximum of NiOx, aligning the energy band of perovskite solar cells with the best energy level matching using sodium hypophosphite. Additionally, the deposition of alkaline sodium hypophosphite on NiOx reduces the proportion of Ni3+, slowing down the degradation of the perovskite layer caused by the reaction with organic cations. The treated devices show improved open-circuit voltage and retain high efficiency for a prolonged period under ambient conditions, demonstrating a feasible and effective strategy for the fabrication of efficient and air-stable inverted perovskite solar cells.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zaiwei Wang, Lewei Zeng, Tong Zhu, Hao Chen, Bin Chen, Dominik J. Kubicki, Adam Balvanz, Chongwen Li, Aidan Maxwell, Esma Ugur, Roberto dos Reis, Matthew Cheng, Guang Yang, Biwas Subedi, Deying Luo, Juntao Hu, Junke Wang, Sam Teale, Suhas Mahesh, Sasa Wang, Shuangyan Hu, Eui Dae Jung, Mingyang Wei, So Min Park, Luke Grater, Erkan Aydin, Zhaoning Song, Nikolas J. Podraza, Zheng-Hong Lu, Jinsong Huang, Vinayak P. Dravid, Stefaan De Wolf, Yanfa Yan, Michael Gratzel, Merx G. Kanatzidis, Edward H. Sargent
Summary: Researchers have discovered that lattice distortion in iodide/bromide mixed perovskites can suppress phase segregation, leading to increased ion-migration energy barrier. By using an approximately 2.0-electron-volt rubidium/caesium mixed-cation inorganic perovskite with large lattice distortion, they achieved an efficiency of 24.3% in all-perovskite triple-junction solar cells. This is the first reported certified efficiency for perovskite-based triple-junction solar cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mubai Li, Riming Sun, Jingxi Chang, Jingjin Dong, Qiushuang Tian, Hongze Wang, Zihao Li, Pinghui Yang, Haokun Shi, Chao Yang, Zichao Wu, Renzhi Li, Yingguo Yang, Aifei Wang, Shitong Zhang, Fangfang Wang, Wei Huang, Tianshi Qin
Summary: Incorporating mixed ion is a commonly used strategy to stabilize black-phase formamidinium lead iodide perovskite for high-efficiency solar cells. However, these devices commonly suffer from photoinduced phase segregation and humidity instability. The research found that the mixed halide perovskites generally fail to grow into a homogenous and high-crystalline film due to multiple pathways of crystal nucleation. To address this issue, a multifunctional fluorinated additive was designed to restrain the intermediate phases and promote oriented crystallization of the a-phase of perovskite. The polymerized additives in the perovskite film formation formed a hydrogen-bonded network to stabilize the a-phase and imparted a strongly hydrophobic effect to the film against liquid water.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hanyu Wang, Wenjing Zou, Yukun Ouyang, Xingchong Liu, Haimin Li, Hu Luo, Xiaopeng Zhao
Summary: The addition of oxamic acid potassium salt (OAPS) as a bifunctional additive to perovskite film effectively reduces nonradiative recombination loss, inhibits the formation of iodide Frenkel defects and I- ion migration, leading to enhanced power conversion efficiency and improved device stability.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hehe Huang, Xuliang Zhang, Chenyu Zhao, Jianyu Yuan
Summary: In this study, a hybrid strategy using the conjugated polyelectrolyte PFN-Br and all-inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots (QDs) is reported. By passivating the surface of CsPbI3 QDs with hydrophobic PFN-Br, the defect states and migration of halide ions can be reduced, leading to improved stability and a champion efficiency of 15.07% for the hybrid PFN-Br/CsPbI3 QD solar cell.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kai Zou, Qihua Li, Jingquan Fan, Hebing Tang, Lixin Chen, Shuxia Tao, Tingting Xu, Wei Huang
Summary: Surface passivation is an effective strategy to reduce defects in perovskite solar cells. In this study, the passivation effects of pyridine and its derivatives with different functional groups were compared. Py-NH2 was found to be the best passivation agent, reducing defect density and improving conversion efficiency and long-term stability in carbon-based perovskite solar cells.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Wu, Guoqing Xiong, Ziyao Yue, Ziyao Dong, Yuanhang Cheng
Summary: This review article discusses the defects in wide-bandgap mixed-halide perovskite solar cells and their detrimental effects on material and device performance. Various device engineering strategies for defect passivation are summarized, providing insights for future development of wide-bandgap mixed-halide perovskite solar cells.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md Aslam Uddin, Prem Jyoti Singh Rana, Zhenyi Ni, Xuezeng Dai, Zhenhua Yu, Zhifang Shi, Haoyang Jiao, Jinsong Huang
Summary: This study reports a new method for the fabrication of highly efficient PSCs and modules in ambient conditions. The use of blade technique to prepare thin films with good conductivity, along with additives that enhance the coverage and dispersity of perovskite and PCBM, leads to superior efficiency and stability.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jianheng Zhou, Mingwei Hao, Yu Zhang, Xue Ma, Jianchao Dong, Feifei Lu, Jie Wang, Ning Wang, Yuanyuan Zhou
Summary: In this study, a surface-dedoping approach is used to enhance the efficiency of tin perovskite solar cells. By optimizing the film morphology, negative effects are avoided. The method also improves carrier lifetime and reduces trap density, resulting in higher device efficiency. Furthermore, the tin perovskite solar cells exhibit stability even after long-term storage.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Shurong Wang, Huanhuan Yao, Zhiyue Tang, Liming Ding, Feng Hao
Summary: In this study, the phase separation of PEDOT and PSS chains in the film was controlled by ammonium carbamate (AC), resulting in a modified film with lower trap density and more facile carrier transport. As a result, tin halide perovskite solar cells (TPSCs) using the modified PEDOT:PSS film achieved a significantly improved short-circuit photocurrent (J(sc)), open-circuit voltage (V-oc), and power conversion efficiency (PCE).
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qingshun Dong, Min Chen, Yuhang Liu, Felix T. Eickemeyer, Weidong Zhao, Zhenghong Dai, Yanfeng Yin, Chen Jiang, Jiangshan Feng, Shengye Jin, Shengzhong (Frank) Liu, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Michael Gratzel, Nitin P. Padture, Yantao Shi
Summary: The growth of a low-dimensional metal-halide perovskite capping layer on flexible perovskite solar cells simultaneously improves power conversion efficiency, operational stability, and bending durability, attributing to enhanced photocarriers extraction, environmental protection, and surface flaw sealing.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Pei-Ying Lin, Aswaghosh Loganathan, Itaru Raifuku, Ming-Hsien Li, Yueh-Ya Chiu, Shao-Tung Chang, Azhar Fakharuddin, Chen-Fu Lin, Tzung-Fang Guo, Lukas Schmidt-Mende, Peter Chen
Summary: Perovskite solar cells have achieved high power conversion efficiency, but the intrinsic instability of perovskite materials remains a key issue. Studies have shown that mixed-halide perovskites and other negative monovalent ions can improve stability. This review presents the evolution and applications of pseudo-halide perovskite solar cells.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. -S. Jiang, Y. Yin, H. Guthrey, K. Park, S. -H. Lee, M. M. Al-Jassim
Summary: This study reports on degradation mechanisms of solid-state electrolyte based on insights from nm-scale ionic conduction and electronic leakage, showing significantly different local degradations. The state-of-the-art lithium-ion conductive glass ceramic SSE exhibits at least two types of degradations spatially separated within the SSE, which were successfully suppressed by a Li-containing polyacrylonitrile thin coating. Through nm-scale transport imaging, novel characterization of ionic and electronic transport in the field of solid-state batteries was achieved.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Kevin L. Schulte, David R. Diercks, Harvey L. Guthrey, John S. Mangum, Corinne E. Packard, Wondwosen Metaferia, John Simon, Aaron J. Ptak
Summary: This study investigates the impact of various factors on the defect structure of Ga1-xInxP compositionally graded buffers grown on GaAs. It was found that dynamic grading style results in smoother gradients, while the substrate offcut direction plays a crucial role in obtaining CGBs with low defect density.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Sami A. El Hageali, Harvey Guthrey, Steven Johnston, Jake Soto, Bruce Odekirk, Brian P. Gorman, Mowafak Al-Jassim
Summary: This paper highlights the importance of a multiscale luminescence characterization approach in studying extended defects in epitaxial 4H-SiC semiconducting materials. The analysis of luminescence at different scales provides insights into the excess charge carrier recombination behavior of extended defects and reveals the essential nature of their microstructure.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kejun Chen, Alexandra Bothwell, Harvey Guthrey, Matthew B. Hartenstein, Jana-Isabelle Polzin, Frank Feldmann, William Nemeth, San Theingi, Matthew Page, David L. Young, Paul Stradins, Sumit Agarwal
Summary: Polycrystalline Silicon on tunneling silicon oxide (poly-Si/SiOx) passivating contacts have shown potential for industrial photovoltaic technology. Thinning the front poly-Si film can improve short-circuit current density, leading to efficiency gains. X-ray diffraction is an effective method to measure the front poly-Si thickness.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kejun Chen, Barry Hartweg, Michael Woodhouse, Harvey Guthrey, William Nemeth, San Theingi, Matthew Page, Zachary C. Holman, Paul Stradins, Sumit Agarwal, David L. Young
Summary: By using a wet etching technique to remove the front poly-Si and repassivating the surface with SiN$_x$/Al$_2$O$_3$ stack, the performance of solar cells can be effectively improved. The new front/back poly-Si/SiO$_x$ passivating contact device shows promising open-circuit voltage and efficiency, with simulations demonstrating good agreement with experimental results. Further cost reductions in single-sided doped poly-Si layers are needed to compete with mainstream passivated emitter and rear cell, and TOPCon technologies.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Steve Johnston, Chuanxiao Xiao, Michael G. Deceglie, Ashley Gaulding, Chun-Sheng Jiang, Harvey Guthrey, Dana B. Kern, George F. Kroeger, Mowafak Al-Jassim, Ingrid L. Repins
Summary: Photovoltaic modules from a utility-scale field experience power loss due to light- and elevated-temperature-induced degradation. A study found a majority-carrier, hole-trap defect with an activation energy on degraded and regenerated samples. The LeTID-degraded sample had a larger trap density than the regenerated sample. Increasing the filling pulse time slightly decreased the activation energy, suggesting a band of energy states. The defect's capture rate was measured, leading to a measured capture cross section and an estimated majority-carrier-hole lifetime in the LeTID-degraded state.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. Lima Salles, H. L. Guthrey, A. S. Kale, W. Nemeth, M. Page, D. L. Young, P. Stradins, S. Agarwal
Summary: The contact resistivity of polycrystalline silicon on silicon oxide depends on the formation of pinholes in SiOx. Our work demonstrates that texture morphology can be exploited to enable precise engineering of pinholes in poly-Si/SiOx contacts.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
John S. Mangum, Anthony D. Rice, Jie Chen, Jason Chenenko, Evan W. K. Wong, Anna K. Braun, Steve Johnston, Harvey Guthrey, John F. Geisz, Aaron J. Ptak, Corinne E. Packard
Summary: A multifaceted approach attacking both growth and substrate costs is necessary to achieve radical reduction of III-V device costs. Implementing device removal and substrate reuse can reduce substrate costs. Controlled spalling allows removal of thin devices from expensive substrates, and this study demonstrates that spalled germanium can achieve high-quality device performance without being returned to a pristine, polished state.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Zhang, Seoung-Bum Son, Harvey Guthrey, Chunmei Ban
Summary: Si-based materials are promising anode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, the use of Si-Gr blended anodes often leads to rapid capacity decay in full cells. This study investigates the potential of Si-Gr blended anodes in full-cell configuration and finds that voltage slippage reduces the graphite component utilization and exacerbates side reactions. By tuning the open circuit voltage of the prelithiated anode and stabilizing the surface, the full cells achieve a highly reversible full-cell energy density and cycling efficiency.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca W. Smaha, Keisuke Yazawa, Andrew G. Norman, John S. Mangum, Harvey Guthrey, Geoff L. Brennecka, Andriy Zakutayev, Sage R. Bauers, Prashun Gorai, Nancy M. Haegel
Summary: Al1-xGdxN is a novel alloy with potential applications in (opto)electronic, magnetic, and neutron detector fields. The alloy's composition range and temperature-composition phase diagram were explored, and it was found that wurtzite is the ground-state structure. The highest Gd3+ incorporation into the wurtzite phase was achieved through combinatorial thin film deposition. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy were used to study the optoelectronic properties, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the uniform composition and structure.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Caroline Lima Salles, William Nemeth, Harvey L. Guthrey, Chun-Sheng Jiang, Matthew R. Page, Sumit Agarwal, Paul Stradins
Summary: This study demonstrates a new method for the fabrication of solar cells, which involves the creation of conducting pinholes using metal-assisted chemical etching at room temperature. The fabricated solar cells with passivating contacts show superior performance, expanding the possibilities for the design of solar cell materials.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Finn Babbe, Nicoleta Nicoara, Harvey Guthrey, Nathalie Valle, Omar Ramirez Sanchez, Damien Aureau, Hossam Elanzeery, Deepanjan Sharma, Jose Luis Virtuoso, Jean-Nicolas Audinot, Anastasiya Zelenina, Sevan Gharabeiki, Tom Wirtz, Susanne Siebentritt, Phillip J. Dale, Sascha Sadewasser, Diego Colombara
Summary: This study provides experimental evidence that the grain boundaries of sodium-doped CuInSe2 thin films may undergo reversible oxidation at room temperature, while undoped films may not. The findings are confirmed through various imaging and analysis techniques. These reactions raise new research questions about the role of alkali metal dopants and may lead to new breakthroughs in chalcopyrite solar cells.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Sami A. El Hageali, Harvey Guthrey, Steven Johnston, Andrew Norman, Jake Soto, Bruce Odekirk, Robert E. Stahlbush, Nadeemullah A. Mahadik, Brian P. Gorman, Mowafak Al-Jassim
Summary: This study investigates the nature, origin, behavior, and impact of trapezoidal defects in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers. Various imaging and microscopy techniques were used to identify the stacking faults and determine their origin. The defects were found to impact the carrier recombination and electrical performance of SiC devices.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Caroline Lima Salles, William Nemeth, Harvey Guthrey, Sumit Agarwal, Paul Stradins
Summary: In this study, a precursor of polysilicon/silicon oxide contact with mesopores was developed using metal-assisted chemical etching at room temperature. Control over pore density was achieved by varying the etching solution concentration, while control over pore radii was achieved through Ostwald ripening of silver nanoparticles.
11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAICS (SILICONPV 2021)
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Kejun Chen, Enrico Napolitani, San Theingi, Harvey Guthrey, William Nemeth, Matthew Page, Paul Stradins, Sumit Agarwal, David L. Young
Summary: In this study, Ga-hyperdoped poly-Si/SiOx contacts were achieved using pulsed laser annealing and post-hydrogenation. Ga was used as a p-type dopant to replace B, which can cause recombination at the oxide-crystalline silicon interface. By exploring pulsed laser annealing with varying laser energy densities and pulses, the low solid solubility limit of Ga in Si was overcome, resulting in a high Ga doping concentration above the limit. Good passivation quality and low contact resistivity were demonstrated, indicating the effectiveness of this method.
11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAICS (SILICONPV 2021)
(2022)
