Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yidie Yuan, Aoxi He, Xia Hao, Lili Wu, Dewei Zhao, Jingquan Zhang
Summary: This study introduced solvent annealing during the preparation of the organic layer of perovskite thin films and successfully improved the efficiency and reproducibility of perovskite solar cells. The treatment increased the grain size and reduced defects of the perovskite thin film, while reducing the residual lead iodide content. It also enhanced the radiative recombination and carrier lifetime in the film, resulting in improved cell efficiency.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Purevlkham Myagmarsereejid, Malaika Ingram, Munkhbayar Batmunkh, Yu Lin Zhong
Summary: Sb2S3 as a solar absorber material has attracted great interest due to its excellent photovoltaic properties, and efforts have been made to enhance the efficiency of Sb2S3 solar cells using approaches like interfacial, surface, and band-gap engineering, as well as doping strategies. Doping strategies show promise in controlling band gap, film morphology, and grain boundary passivation, leading to improved carrier transport, addressing one of the most challenging issues in this field.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zahra Saki, Mahdi Malekshahi Byranvand, Nima Taghavinia, Mayank Kedia, Michael Saliba
Summary: This article discusses the latest developments in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and focuses on the challenges of achieving high-efficiency PSCs. The key factors in preparing perovskite thin films and large-scale production techniques are explored, with opportunities for commercialization highlighted.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Thomas Feeney, Gabriel Aygur, Tony Nguyen, Sidra Farooq, Joao Mendes, Hayden Tuohey, Daniel E. Gomez, Enrico Della Gaspera, Joel van Embden
Summary: Post transition metal chalcohalides are promising semiconductor materials for optoelectronic applications. Bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) is especially interesting due to its stability, low toxicity, and defect tolerance. In this study, pin-hole free and pure BiOI thin films were successfully fabricated using a solution processed method. All-inorganic solar cells based on these films were also fabricated for the first time, with device improvements rivaling vacuum deposited devices achieved through templating film growth. The BiOI thin films and devices presented here provide an excellent platform for the further development of solution processed bismuth chalcohalide optoelectronic devices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
R. C. Ramola, Sandhya Negi, Mukesh Rawat, R. C. Singh, Fouran Singh
Summary: Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a versatile material with high thermal conductivity, electron mobility, wide band gap, and exciton binding energy, making it suitable for various device applications. Among these applications, gallium-doped ZnO thin films annealed at 700 degrees Celsius show the highest sensitivity and shortest response and recovery time for ethanol and acetone gases, demonstrating the potential for gas sensing applications.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Hoa T. Dao, Hisao Makino
Summary: The effects of substrate temperature on the thermal stability of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films were studied. It was found that a thin AlOx capping layer can prevent thermal degradation and the reduction in carrier concentration. The correlation between Zn desorption and reduction in carrier concentration was observed, with the AlOx layer successfully preventing thermal desorption of Zn.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ryuki Munekata, Tomohiro Uchimura, Hideaki Araki, Ayaka Kanai, Kunihiko Tanaka, Tomoichiro Okamoto, Yoji Akaki
Summary: This study successfully obtained high-quality Ag8SnS6 thin films using vacuum deposition and sulfide annealing methods, providing a new approach for the preparation of light-absorbing layers in compound thin-film solar cells.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Alima Magramene, Mohamed Moumene, Hani Hadjoudja, Beddiaf Zaidi, Souheyla Gagui, Bouzid Hadjoudja, Baghdadi Chouial, Allaoua Chibani
Summary: The electronic activity of grain boundaries in polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin films hinders the performance of solar cells. Heat treatments before doping and annealing under hydrogen were found to enhance the free carriers concentration, carriers mobility, and reduce the resistivity of phosphorus-doped poly-Si thin films. This research suggests that these treatments can passivate the grain boundaries and improve the electrical characteristics and efficiency of poly-Si thin film solar cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Deepak Aloysius, Arindam Mondal, Satyajit Gupta, Eran Edri, Sabyasachi Mukhopadhyay
Summary: Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have shown significant advancements in their performance in recent years and have great potential for applications in photovoltaics (PV) as well as other fields. This study investigates the effect of formamidinium (FA) on the optical and morphological properties of bromide perovskites, and finds that FA modification leads to a reduction in bandgap and an increase in grain size, resulting in improved photocurrent response and power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the FA-modified HOIP.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. A. Olgar, A. O. Sarp, A. Seyhan, R. Zan
Summary: In this study, CZTS thin films were synthesized using a two-stage process with different annealing temperatures, resulting in samples with varying crystal structures. Selecting appropriate annealing temperatures can lead to purer crystal structures, showing potential for practical application in solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pravin S. Pawar, Raju Nandi, KrishnaRao Eswar Neerugatti, Jae Yu Cho, Jaeyeong Heo
Summary: The study deposited Sb2S3 thin films on molybdenum using a hydrothermal approach and achieved higher power conversion efficiency through annealing to crystallize the films. The research also addressed the underlying reasons for the low efficiency of Sb2S3 TFSCs and provided a pathway for improving device performance in the future.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ling-Ying Shi, Zhixiong Fei, Qian Wang, Lin Weng, Chenxiao Yin, Jinrui Sun, Zhihao Shen
Summary: Bottlebrush block copolymers (BBCPs) are intriguing architectural polymers that can produce various anisotropic nanostructures. This study presents a method for creating ordered silicon oxide patterns and particles on substrates using solvent vapor induced thin film self-assembly of BBCPs containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polystyrene (PS) side chains. Different morphologies, including cylindrical or stripes-like, spherical, and ordered porous structures, as well as Janus particle-like structures, were achieved through solvent vapor annealing. The Janus particle-like structures were further transformed into meso-to-macroporous silicon oxide bowls after oxygen plasma etching. The study also discussed the effects of solvent vapor and backbone length on the self-assembly behavior of the thin film.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Seohan Kim, Janghee Yoon, Sungmin Park, Joonho Bang, Pungkeun Song
Summary: The hydrogen-driven surface amorphization of crystalline In-Sn-O thin films allows for smooth surface morphology and tunability of the work function, leading to improved power conversion efficiency of thin-film solar cells. This method provides a facile way to realize smooth surface morphology of crystalline thin films for optoelectronic applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pedro Centeno, Miguel Alexandre, Filipe Neves, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins, Hugo Aguas, Manuel J. Mendes
Summary: The increasing energy demand and efficiency bottleneck of monocrystalline silicon solar cell technology are driving the research and development of alternative photovoltaic materials. Copper-arsenic-sulfide (CAS) compounds are promising p-type absorber candidates for solar cells due to their availability, suitable bandgap, and high absorption coefficient. This comprehensive study explores the structural and optoelectronic properties of CAS thin-films deposited via radio-frequency magnetron co-sputtering, using both a commercial Cu target and a Cu-As-S target with material sourced from local mines in Portugal. The results show the potential application of CAS films as wide-bandgap semiconductors in third-generation photovoltaic devices.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tanzeela Fazal, Bushra Ismail, Mazloom Shah, Shahid Iqbal, Eslam B. Elkaeed, Nasser S. Awwad, Hala A. Ibrahium
Summary: This study demonstrates that chemically deposited Ni2+ doped Bi2S3 thin films exhibit a homogeneous and crack-free morphology. The incorporation of Ni2+ improves the optoelectronic properties and enhances both the bandgap value and electrical conductivity, thereby optimizing the photovoltaic response of Bi2S3 for solar cell applications.
