Article
Energy & Fuels
Minju Jun, Thanh Mien Nguyen, Sung-Jo Kim, Na-Yeong Kim, Ah Young Lee, Jong H. Kim, Jin-Woo Oh, Ji-Youn Seo
Summary: In organic photovoltaics, efficient light-harvesting materials and appropriate device structures are crucial for increasing power conversion efficiency. This research focuses on the use of a natural biomaterial, M13 bacteriophage, as an intermediate layer to improve light transmittance and enhance the performance of organic photovoltaic cells. The functional surface hydrophilicity of M13 significantly increases light transmittance and improves the coherence between the hole transport layer and the photoactive layer, resulting in higher photocurrent density and power conversion efficiency. This approach offers a novel, low-cost, and eco-friendly design for light manipulation in solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Paula Hartnagel, Sandheep Ravishankar, Benjamin Klingebiel, Oliver Thimm, Thomas Kirchartz
Summary: In the past years, high-performance organic solar cells have emerged, reducing the amount of energetic disorder in structurally disordered semiconductors. It is crucial to accurately characterize this disorder when searching for future high-efficiency material systems. Common techniques include optical excitation and external voltage measurements, with the former yielding lower values of energetic disorder compared to the latter. Electrical measurements probe different energy ranges than optical measurements due to subband-gap density of states. Limitations and discrepancies between measurement techniques are explained based on electronic parameters.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Moritz Riede, Donato Spoltore, Karl Leo
Summary: Organic solar cells have the potential to be the cheapest form of electricity, surpassing silicon photovoltaics. However, challenges remain in increasing efficiency and long-term stability. The technology could be used in building integrated photovoltaics and portable electronics, with the potential to have the lowest carbon footprint of all energy generation technologies.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Optics
Jason A. Rohr, B. Edward Sartor, Jason Lipton, Andre D. Taylor
Summary: Our oceans are vast and difficult to monitor, but a fully autonomous 'Internet of Underwater Things' powered by underwater solar energy could revolutionize data collection. However, traditional silicon solar cells do not perform well underwater, so alternative materials like GaInP variants, CdTe, organic semiconductors, and perovskite semiconductors need to be explored. Challenges such as antifouling coatings and new certification standards must also be addressed.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xabier Rodriguez-Martinez, Enrique Pascual-San-Jose, Zhuping Fei, Martin Heeney, Roger Guimera, Mariano Campoy-Quiles
Summary: By training artificial intelligence algorithms with self-consistent datasets, this study found that Bayesian machine scientist and random decision forest methods can effectively predict the photocurrent-composition phase space in organic photovoltaic material systems. The research identified highly predictive models using only material band gaps, simplifying the rationale of the photocurrent-composition space in this field.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Emma L. K. Spooner, Elena J. Cassella, Joel A. Smith, Thomas E. Catley, Sam Burholt, David G. Lidzey
Summary: The introduction of Y-series non-fullerene acceptors has greatly improved the power conversion efficiencies of organic solar cells. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the deposition of a Y-series-based system using ultrasonic spray coating, which has the potential for significantly faster deposition speeds than traditional methods. The use of an air-knife enables rapid removal of the casting solvent and overcomes film reticulation, resulting in spray-coated PM6:DTY6 devices with PCEs of up to 14.1%. The study also highlights the challenges of scalable coating for Y-series-based solar cells, particularly the influence of slower drying times on blend morphology and crystallinity. The compatibility of ultrasonic spray coating with high-speed roll-to-roll OSC manufacturing techniques is demonstrated.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Qiuju Liang, Wangchang Li, Haodong Lu, Zhenhao Yu, Xinyi Zhang, Qingjie Dong, Chunpeng Song, Zongcheng Miao, Jiangang Liu
Summary: BHJ organic photovoltaics are highly promising for green energy technology, but optimizing the morphology of the active layer is crucial. The addition of solid additives has become a popular strategy, but the relationship between additive properties and active layer morphology is still unclear.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Yin, Wenliang Huang, Junjie Fang, Zicheng Ding, Chengkai Jin, Yachao Du, Lei Lang, Tinghuan Yang, Shumei Wang, Weilun Cai, Chou Liu, Guangtao Zhao, Yingguo Yang, Shengzhong (Frank) Liu, Tongle Bu, Kui Zhao
Summary: This study demonstrates the controlled crystallization dynamics of alpha-formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskite films using an additive 1-butylpyridine tetrafluoroborate (BPyBF4) for high-performance and stable printed perovskite solar cells. The addition of BPyBF4 delays crystallization onset, enhances conversion to perovskite, and reduces defects in printed films, resulting in improved power conversion efficiencies and stability.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Bo Wang, Wenbin Lai, Shijie Liang, Yikun Wang, Chao Wang, Chengyi Xiao, Weiwei Li
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of using non-fused electron acceptors in all-polymer solar cells for indoor applications. Different polymers were designed and synthesized with modified linker units, and the impact of these linkers on various properties was explored. The results suggest that optimum phase separation and charge mobilities can lead to high power conversion efficiency in these all-polymer solar cells.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yongfeng Ni, Xuan Liu, Yang Liu, Zhendong Feng, Dandan Tu, Xin Guo, Can Li
Summary: A new concept of nonalloy model is proposed for ternary organic solar cells, which can achieve high efficiency and stability by introducing a third component with moderate miscibility and distributing it in the interspace between donor and acceptor domains.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kai Cheong Tam, Peter Kubis, Philipp Maisch, Christoph J. Brabec, Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf
Summary: This study demonstrated the design steps and optimization processes towards fully printed organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules with scalable processes for the first time, successfully fabricating devices with over 3.5 cm(2) active area and 5% efficiency. By addressing issues related to upscaling with printed electrodes through a rational design process, it also showed process compatibility of fully printed device structures with non-fullerene acceptor systems, enabling more opportunities for the design of high-performance OPV materials.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gaoyuan Yang, Yibo Tu, Jingchuan Ye, Ruochuan Liu, Yue Zang, Lijian Zhang, Yu Wang, Guodong Li, Qin Zhou, Liang Chu, Wensheng Yan
Summary: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are the most promising candidate for next-generation photovoltaics. Manipulating the hot carriers has the potential to achieve ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells. However, the carrier dynamics behavior in the femtosecond time scale is difficult to be detected, and this challenge is effectively addressed by femtosecond transient absorption techniques.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Quinn Burlingame, Yueh-Lin Loo
Summary: Organic solar cells are suitable for semi-transparent applications, requiring a balance between transparency and power generation. By simulating the design of organic UV absorbers and solar cells, it is found that solar cells using absorbers with a cutoff wavelength of 420 nm produce the most power without compromising transparency or color neutrality.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongyuan Fu, Jia Yao, Ming Zhang, Lingwei Xue, Qiuju Zhou, Shangyu Li, Ming Lei, Lei Meng, Zhi-Guo Zhang, Yongfang Li
Summary: This study developed a simple and inexpensive boron trifluoride etherate-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation method for the efficient synthesis of high-performing acceptor-donor-acceptor structured small molecule acceptors. Compared with traditional methods, this approach significantly reduces costs and provides an important synthetic tool for the development of PSCs and other emerging technologies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jing De Chen, Hui-Min Liu, Hao Ren, Ye-Fan Zhang, Hong-Yi Hou, Yan-Qing Li, Zisheng Su, Jian-Xin Tang
Summary: Semitransparent organic solar cells face challenges in color tunability. This study proposes a method using amorphous photonic crystals as substrates to achieve viewing-angle-independent color reflection, showing variations from blue to pink. The cells on flexible plastic also maintain stable colors even in bending state.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
M. Prabodhi A. Nanayakkara, Lidija Matjacic, Sebastian Wood, Filipe Richheimer, Fernando A. Castro, Sandra Jenatsch, Simon Zufle, Rachel Kilbride, Andrew J. Parnell, Mateus G. Masteghin, Hashini M. Thirimanne, Andrew Nisbet, K. D. G. Imalka Jayawardena, S. Ravi P. Silva
Summary: Organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductor X-ray detectors with ultra-low dark currents, high sensitivity, and broadband X-ray response are suitable for medical and industrial applications due to excellent dose linearity, dose rate linearity, and reproducibility.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonas Hafner, Simone Benaglia, Filipe Richheimer, Marco Teuschel, Franz J. Maier, Artner Werner, Sebastian Wood, Daniel Platz, Michael Schneider, Klaudia Hradil, Fernando A. Castro, Ricardo Garcia, Ulrich Schmid
Summary: This study demonstrates that the semi-crystalline morphology of ferroelectric copolymer P(VDF-TrFE) significantly influences its Curie transition, involving changes in both crystal symmetry and morphology. Quantitative multi-scale characterizations reveal the complex nature of Curie transition in ferroelectric polymeric materials with an intermixture of crystalline and amorphous regions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
George Koutsourakis, Timothy Eales, Ingo Kroeger, James C. Blakesley
Summary: This study introduces a novel technique for linearity measurements of PV devices based on digital light processing. The system can provide thousands of measurement points on the linearity curve in seconds, with high accuracy and speed. Results show that the DLP method offers equal measurement accuracy compared to conventional systems, but with significantly higher resolution and speed.
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yameng Cao, Sebastian Wood, Filipe Richheimer, J. Blakesley, Robert J. Young, Fernando A. Castro
Summary: Controlling radiative properties in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides is crucial for optoelectronic devices. Using an ambient-compatible laser process, spatial inhomogeneity in WS2 was reduced, improving photoluminescence emission and quality. Analysis showed the enhancement was due to a spatial reduction in charged exciton spectral weighting. The methods presented are easily automated and ideal for assessing materials in both lab and industrial settings.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
George Koutsourakis, Andrew Thompson, James C. Blakesley
Summary: Photocurrent response mapping is a powerful imaging technique for assessing defects and losses in photovoltaic devices, but its widespread application is hindered by long measurement times for high-resolution measurements and the need for lock-in amplification for weak signals from micrometer-sized laser spots. An alternative approach using digital micromirror devices combined with compressed sensing theory offers benefits such as signal amplification, undersampling options, and simplified measurement systems, but high computational requirements limit experimental application to low-resolution outputs.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Christopher W. Jones, Wenjuan Sun, Hal Boulter, Stephen Brown
Summary: The complex topography of additively-manufactured surfaces and the rapid evolution of measurement instruments have led to a lack of trust in inspection data. To improve confidence in measurement, a surface texture measurement standard has been designed and calibrated.
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Malte Ruben Vogt, Stefan Riechelmann, Ana Maria Gracia-Amillo, Anton Driesse, Alexander Kokka, Kinza Maham, Petri Karha, Robert Kenny, Carsten Schinke, Karsten Bothe, James Blakesley, Esma Music, Fabian Plag, Gabi Friesen, Gianluca Corbellini, Nicholas Riedel-Lyngskar, Roland Valckenborg, Markus Schweiger, Werner Herrmann
Summary: The IEC 61853 standard series aims to provide a standardized measure for photovoltaic module energy rating, but implementation steps leave room for interpretation. An intercomparison among research organizations with ten different implementations of the algorithm reveals differences in CSER, which are reduced through the definition of a best practice approach.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chung-Che Huang, He Wang, Yameng Cao, Ed Weatherby, Filipe Richheimer, Sebastian Wood, Shan Jiang, Daqing Wei, Yongkang Dong, Xiaosong Lu, Pengfei Wang, Tomas Polcar, Daniel W. Hewak
Summary: We have developed a fabrication process for uniform large-scale MoS2, WS2 monolayers, and their heterostructures using van der Waals epitaxy. The resulting materials have been successfully deposited on various substrates, and their band alignment and large-scale uniformity have been evaluated.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
George Koutsourakis, Carys Worsley, Michael Spence, James C. Blakesley, Trystan M. Watson, Matt Carnie, Fernando A. Castro
Summary: Metastability in perovskite solar cell (PSC) devices was investigated through current-voltage (I-V) testing and voltage dependent photoluminescence (PL-V) imaging. Advanced I-V parameter acquisition methods are needed for accurate PSC performance evaluation, as misleading results can occur when using simple fast I-V curves. The study also distinguishes between metastability and degradation, an important step for reporting stabilized efficiencies of PSC devices. The research highlights the need to revisit existing quantitative PL imaging methods and assumptions in PSC devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Alessio Sacco, Luisa Mandrile, Li-Lin Tay, Nobuyasu Itoh, Ankit Raj, Alberto Moure, Adolfo Del Campo, Jose F. Fernandez, Keith R. Paton, Sebastian Wood, Hyuksang Kwon, Tehseen Adel, Angela R. Hight Walker, Erlon Henrique Martins Ferreira, Ralf Theissmann, Thomas Koch, Andrea Mario Giovannozzi, Chiara Portesi, Andrea Mario Rossi
Summary: This article presents an interlaboratory comparison on Raman spectroscopy as a reliable method for quantification of TiO2 phases. Raman spectroscopy is a fast, non-invasive technique that can differentiate and measure TiO2 without the need for special reagents or sample preparation.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yameng Cao, Sebastian Wood, Filipe Richheimer, J. Blakesley, Robert J. Young, Fernando A. Castro
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shiqi Guo, Kaijin Wu, Chengpan Li, Hao Wang, Zheng Sun, Dawei Xi, Sheng Zhang, Weiping Ding, Mona E. Zaghloul, Changning Wang, Fernando A. Castro, Dong Yang, Yunlong Zhao
Summary: Smart contact lenses with a flexible fabrication method and ultrathin MoS2 transistor-based serpentine mesh sensor system have been developed, integrating photodetector, glucose sensor, and temperature sensor for high sensitivity and biocompatibility, showing promise for healthcare and medical applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shahriyar Safat Dipta, Md Habibur Rahaman, Walia Binte Tarique, Ashraful Hossain Howlader, Ayush Pratik, John A. Stride, Ashraf Uddin
Summary: Implementing a double-sided passivation approach can enhance the performance of n-i-p structured PSCs and improve the stability and photovoltaic properties of the cells.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Daniel Ourinson, Andreas Brand, Andreas Lorenz, Marwan Dhamrin, Sebastian Tepner, Michael Linse, Nathalie Goettlicher, Kosuke Tsuji, Jonas D. Huyeng, Florian Clement
Summary: This work presents two approaches to reduce the amount of silver on the rear side of M2-sized industrial iTOPCon solar cells. The Cu-based approach shows promise with similar power conversion efficiency compared to the conventional approach, while the Al-based approach exhibits some limitations but demonstrates the potential of such type of contact for iTOPCon solar cells.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Abasifreke Ebong, Donald Intal, Sandra Huneycutt, Thad Druffel, Ruvini Dharmadasa, Kevin Elmer, Apolo Nambo
Summary: This study demonstrates the successful metallization of a PERC silicon solar cell using screen-printable copper (Cu) paste. The Cu paste contains antioxidant additives and diffusion inhibitors to prevent oxidation and diffusion of Cu. The Cu-printed cells achieved an efficiency of 19% and showed no Cu diffusion after characterization tests. The long-term stability and effectiveness of the Cu diffusion barrier were also confirmed.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Senami Zogbo, Wilfried Favre, Olivier Bonino, Marie-Estelle Gueunier-Farret
Summary: Measuring specific contact resistivity (pc) is crucial for interface engineering in high efficiency solar cells. The Transfer Length Method (TLM) is commonly used for evaluating layer sheet resistance (Rsheet) and pc, but it is not suitable for metal/Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) interface evaluation in silicon heterojunction (SHJ) cells. This study investigates the parameters that restrict current confinement within the TCO, including mid-gap trap density (Dit) at the a-Si:H/c-Si interface and the activation energy (Ea = Ec - EF) variation of a-Si:H contact layers.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jean-Baptiste Charpentier, Philippe Voarino, Julien Gaume
Summary: The phenomenon of ribbon lengthening in PV modules exposed to thermal cycling is not well explained in the literature. In this study, a three layers model is proposed to explain this effect, and the predictions of the model are validated through finite element method simulations and experiments. The results show that the model predictions are consistent with the indirect measurements, but not with the direct measurements. Additionally, it is inferred that the encapsulant plays a role after the solder failure.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jean-Baptiste Charpentier, Philippe Voarino, Julien Gaume
Summary: This study investigates the problematic ribbon lengthening observed in PV modules exposed to high amplitude thermal cycling. A simplified system model is proposed and accurate predictions are obtained using the Finite Element Method. The results show that the thickness of the encapsulant has a substantial impact on the lengthening of the ribbons.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
S. Catalan-Gomez, E. Martinez Castellano, M. Schwarz, M. Montes Bajo, L. Dorado Vargas, A. Gonzalo, A. Redondo-Cubero, A. Gallego Carro, A. Hierro, J. M. Ulloa
Summary: This study investigates the use of core-shell gallium nanoparticles as functional light scatterers on solar cells. By optimizing the nanoparticle size, the short-circuit current of the solar cells is significantly improved. The underlying physical mechanism is studied through optical measurements and simulations, and a method to reduce the plasmonic effect of the nanoparticles is demonstrated.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. Gamel, G. Lopez, A. M. Medrano, A. Jimenez, A. Datas, M. Garin, I. Martin
Summary: In this study, a highly reflective ohmic contact to p-type c-Ge material is demonstrated, which can improve the efficiency of thermophotovoltaic devices. The experimental results show that this contact can simultaneously meet the requirements of good back surface passivation, low electrical resistivity, and high reflectivity. Moreover, simulations suggest that implementing these back contacts has the potential to achieve conversion efficiencies comparable to high-efficiency c-Ge TPV cells.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hongyang Wei, Qing Xu, Dongchu Chen, Min Chen, Menglei Chang, Xiufang Ye
Summary: This study prepared solar selective absorption films based on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) photonic crystals using a unique electrodeposition method. The Co-Ag electrodeposited film exhibited superior solar selective absorption properties and thermal stability.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ankit Kumar, Ankit Chauhan, Jordi Llobet, Helder Fonseca, Patricia C. Sousa, Carlos Calaza, Gil Shalev
Summary: This study found that decorating subwavelength arrays with SiO2 quasi-nanolenses (qNL arrays) can enhance the absorption of the solar spectrum. Optical absorption mechanisms in qNL arrays were investigated using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), revealing that the enhancement is a result of the combination of effective antireflection coating, increased optical interactions between adjacent dielectrics for elevated light trapping, and strong light concentration due to the presence of qNLs.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
S. Pingel, T. Wenzel, N. Goettlicher, M. Linse, L. Folcarelli, J. Schube, S. Hoffmann, S. Tepner, Y. C. Lau, J. Huyeng, A. Lorenz, F. Clement
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential to reduce silver consumption in highly efficient SHJ cells through fine-line screen printing using low temperature paste with various screens. The results show that using finer mesh allows for narrower grid fingers and lower resistance, leading to improved cell efficiency. Simulation results indicate that module wire configuration is crucial for reducing silver consumption.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xibo He, Jun Qiu, Wei Wang, Yicheng Hou, Yong Shuai
Summary: This paper proposes a novel phase change material with high thermal conductivity and stability for fast photo-thermal conversion and storage. The experimental results demonstrate excellent durability and stability of the phase change material, with good performance in thermal conductivity and thermal storage efficiency.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qingyuan Liu, Lin Wang, Zheng Liu, Guohua Liu
Summary: A new evaporating structure consisting of liquid marble with tunable nanowire array is proposed to enhance solar evaporation. The experiments show that the liquid marble with nanowire array exhibits outstanding evaporation performance, which has significant implications for seawater desalination or wastewater treatment.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hao Liu, Qiming Liu, Jinpei Liu, Yonggang Zhao, Yingjie Yu, Yue An, Ganghui Wei, Yanzheng Li, Yujun Fu, Junshuai Li, Deyan He
Summary: Moisture in the air is identified as the main cause of performance degradation in organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells. Exposure to air leads to the growth of thin oxide layer on the interface and the formation of silver sulfide, increasing the series resistance and decreasing the fill factor, thus degrading the cell performance.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)
Article
Energy & Fuels
E. Blanco, P. Martin, M. Dominguez, P. Fernandez-Palacios, I. Lombardero, C. Sanchez-Perez, I. Garcia, C. Algora, M. Gabas
Summary: This study addresses the lack of optical parameters for p-type Ge wafers by determining the complex refractive indices of commercial Ge wafers with varying doping levels. The obtained data successfully reproduces the critical points associated with interband transitions and absorption features below the bandgap. The refractive indices were validated through experimental measurements and solar cell simulations.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2024)