Article
Energy & Fuels
Thomas Fiducia, Ashley Howkins, Ali Abbas, Budhika Mendis, Amit Munshi, Kurt Barth, Walajabad Sampath, John Walls
Summary: Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells achieve high efficiencies through passivation of grain boundaries and grain interior defects. The use of selenium alloying in Cd(Se-x,Te1-x) material further improves the passivation effect, providing new possibilities for efficiency improvement and cost reduction in solar electricity.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Darius Kuciauskas, Siming Li, John Moseley, David Albin, Chungho Lee, Arthur Louis Onno, Zachary Charles Holman
Summary: Cd(Se)Te solar cells have potential for increasing voltage, with voltage losses mainly attributed to nonradiative recombination quantified by carrier lifetime and radiative efficiency. The majority of voltage losses are found to be due to recombination in the absorber bulk, with front interface recombination having a larger impact within the first few nanoseconds after excitation. Time-resolved photoluminescence experiments can be used to assess the relative contributions of different recombination rates.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Michael J. Watts, Peter Hatton, Roger Smith, Tom Fiducia, Ali Abbas, Rachael Greenhalgh, John M. Walls, Pooja Goddard
Summary: Cadmium telluride is a key material in second generation thin-film photovoltaic technology, with a high solar cell conversion efficiency achieved through activation treatment with CdCl2. Chlorine atoms concentrated at grain boundaries after treatment, and density functional theory calculations show their stabilization compared to bulk CdTe. These findings suggest that the passivation of single-particle levels by halogens is the primary cause of the efficiency enhancement in chlorine treatment.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. H. Swartz, E. G. LeBlanc, C. Perkins, D. L. McGott, M. O. Reese, A. Nichols, T. H. Myers
Summary: For solar cells based on CdTe, we investigated p-type PbTe and SnTe as ohmic contacts. The results showed that the highest doped PbTe resulted in desirable band alignment with CdTe, leading to improved performance of the CdTe solar cells, primarily from increased fill factor.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dipendra Pokhrel, Ebin Bastola, Kamala Khanal Subedi, Manoj K. Jamarkattel, Adam B. Phillips, Michael J. Heben, Randy J. Ellingson
Summary: This study reports the use of lead telluride nanowires as a buffer layer to passivate the back contact of cadmium telluride solar cells. The results show that this buffer layer improves the optoelectronic properties and device performance, resulting in improved open-circuit voltage and fill factor.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Deb Kumar Shah, K. C. Devendra, M. Muddassir, M. Shaheer Akhtar, Chong Yeal Kim, O-Bong Yang
Summary: This paper describes a simulation study on optimizing high-performance cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells by varying doping concentrations, carrier lifetimes, temperature, and layer thickness. The study found the highest efficiencies with specific parameters, such as 18.29% with a doping concentration of 1.5 x 10(17) cm(-3) for the absorber layer. The research also explored the impact of carrier lifetime and layer thickness on solar cell efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Keijo Jacobs, Mietek Bakowski, Per Ranstad, Hans-Peter Nee
Summary: This article investigates the performance of three differently optimized 10-kV SiC p-i-n diodes in high-power converters and compares them. The results show that using SiC diodes can reduce rectifier losses by 37%, compared to the use of Si diodes. The proportion of switching losses to total losses is low, indicating a higher possible operation frequency for SiC diodes.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ghaida Alosaimi, So Jeong Shin, Robert Lee Chin, Jong H. Kim, Jae Sung Yun, Jan Seidel
Summary: A new approach utilizing directional illumination and nanoscale scanning probe microscopy was used to study the optoelectronic behavior of (FAPbI(3))(0.85)(MAPbBr(3))(0.15) perovskite solar cells with different electron transport layers. The results showed lower photocurrent and surface photovoltage under top illumination, while higher values were observed under blue light bottom illumination, indicating enhanced charge transport near the p-n junction. Conductive atomic force microscopy confirmed that SnO2 improves the charge collection properties of perovskite's grain boundaries.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chenbo Min, Yihui Chen, Yonglin Yang, Hongzhao Wu, Bailin Guo, Sirui Wu, Qichuan Huang, Donghuan Qin, Lintao Hou
Summary: A new phosphine-doping strategy was developed to enhance the performance of CdTe nanocrystal solar cells, resulting in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.41%. Phosphine doping was found to increase the carrier concentration, improve carrier mobility, and prolong carrier lifetime, leading to significant improvement in the performance of CdTe nanocrystal solar cells.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yan Zhu, Thorsten Trupke, Ziv Hameiri
Summary: This study introduces a dynamic calibration method for injection-dependent carrier lifetime measurements, which compares lifetime measurements under quasi-steady-state and non-quasi-steady-state conditions to achieve precise calibration of experimental data and provide the net bulk doping concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengcheng Jia, Liang Qin, Di Zhao, Yang Tang, Bo Song, Junhan Guo, Xiaomeng Li, Ling Li, Qiuhong Cui, Yufeng Hu, Zhidong Lou, Feng Teng, Yanbing Hou
Summary: The performance of perovskite solar cells is greatly influenced by the crystallization of the perovskite active layer, with neatly arranged crystal grains promoting less residual charge and improved device performance. The testing of residual charge at grain boundaries provides insight into carrier trap and detrap characteristics in photovoltaic devices.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin Xu, Connor Carr, Xinqi Chen, Benjamin D. Myers, Ruiyun Huang, Weizi Yuan, Sihyuk Choi, Dezhi Yi, Charudatta Phatak, Sossina M. Haile
Summary: This study reveals the variation in grain boundary properties of polycrystalline ionic materials and the correlation between grain boundary resistance and impurity concentration. The findings suggest that the grain boundary resistance may be caused by impurity-generated space charge effects and driven by the energetics of impurity segregation.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Muzaffar Imam, Syed Sadique Anwer Askari, Mukul Kumar Das
Summary: A novel theoretical model has been developed to investigate the effective minority carrier lifetime (EMCL) for polycrystalline (pc) semiconductor-based devices by analyzing their grain boundary (GB) image. The model takes into account Gaussian-distributed traps with unequal electron and hole capture cross sections. The whole GB image is divided into multiple small cells to develop the model. The accuracy of the model improves by reducing the cell size (d), but at the cost of increased computational time.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRON DEVICES
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Deborah McGott, Brian Good, Brian Fluegel, Joel N. Duenow, Colin Wolden, Matthew Reese
Summary: Determining major voltage losses in CdTe-based photovoltaics is crucial, with this study finding that a Se ratio of x = 0.2 is necessary for improving carrier lifetime in the bulk. The investigation also revealed evidence of trapping at the Mg$_\text{y}$Zn$_\text{1-y}$O/CdSe$_\text{x}$Te$_\text{1-x}$ interface, indicating further work is needed for proper passivation.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiwen Chen, Gaoyuan Chen, Wan-Jian Yin
Summary: In this study, various interphase boundary (IB) structures of lead halide perovskites (LHPs) were computationally constructed, and their effects on charge carrier transport properties were investigated. The results demonstrate that IBs play a significant role in carrier transport and can be engineered to enhance the performance of LHPs by adjusting their compositional phases and ratios.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Morgann Berg, Jason M. Kephart, Amit Munshi, Walajabad S. Sampath, Taisuke Ohta, Calvin Chan
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2018)
Article
Physics, Applied
Darius Kuciauskas, Jason M. Kephart, John Moseley, Wyatt K. Metzger, Walajabad S. Sampath, Pat Dippo
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2018)
Article
Physics, Applied
Drew E. Swanson, Carey Reich, Ali Abbas, Tushar Shimpi, Hanxiao Liu, Fernando A. Ponce, John M. Walls, Yong-Hang Zhang, Wyatt K. Metzger, W. S. Sampath, Zachary C. Holman
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Timothy D. Siegler, Tushar M. Shimpi, Walajabad S. Sampath, Brian A. Korgel
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tursun Ablekim, Craig Perkins, Xin Zheng, Carey Reich, Drew Swanson, Eric Colegrove, Joel N. Duenow, David Albin, Sanjini Nanayakkara, Matthew O. Reese, Tushar Shimpi, Walajabad Sampath, Wyatt K. Metzger
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2019)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Thomas A. M. Fiducia, Budhika G. Mendis, Kexue Li, Chris R. M. Grovenor, Amit H. Munshi, Kurt Barth, Walajabad S. Sampath, Lewis D. Wright, Ali Abbas, Jake W. Bowers, John M. Walls
Correction
Energy & Fuels
Thomas A. M. Fiducia, Budhika G. Mendis, Kexue Li, Chris R. M. Grovenor, Amit H. Munshi, Kurt Barth, Walajabad S. Sampath, Lewis D. Wright, Ali Abbas, Jake W. Bowers, John M. Walls
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tushar M. Shimpi, Christina Moffett, Walajabad S. Sampath, Kurt L. Barth
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Francesco Bittau, Shridhar Jagdale, Christos Potamialis, Jake W. Bowers, John M. Walls, Amit H. Munshi, Kurt L. Barth, Walajabad S. Sampath
Article
Physics, Applied
Jinglong Guo, Arun Mannodi-Kanakkithodi, Fatih G. Sen, Eric Schwenker, E. S. Barnard, Amit Munshi, W. Sampath, Maria K. Y. Chan, Robert F. Klie
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Alexandra M. M. Bothwell, Carey L. L. Reich, Adam H. H. Danielson, Arthur Onno, Zachary C. C. Holman, Walajabad S. S. Sampath, Darius Kuciauskas
Summary: The efficiencies of thin-film photovoltaic devices are limited by carrier recombination. It is crucial to understand recombination mechanisms to enhance performance. Determining the bulk minority carrier lifetime (tau(bulk)) is challenging in P-N junction devices, especially in highly doped ones. This research utilizes time-resolved photoluminescence simulations to quantify recombination properties and develop methods for determining tau(bulk) in highly doped CdSeTe structures.
Proceedings Paper
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amit H. Munshi, Adam H. Danielson, Kurt L. Barth, Guillaume Gelinas, Jean-Nicolas Beaudry, W. S. Sampath
2018 IEEE 7TH WORLD CONFERENCE ON PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION (WCPEC) (A JOINT CONFERENCE OF 45TH IEEE PVSC, 28TH PVSEC & 34TH EU PVSEC)
(2018)
Proceedings Paper
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amit H. Munshi, Jason M. Kephart, Carey L. Reich, Davis R. Hemenway, Tushar M. Shimpi, Ali Abbas, Kevan C. Cameron, Adam H. Danielson, Kurt L. Barth, John M. Walls, Walajabad S. Sampath
2018 IEEE 7TH WORLD CONFERENCE ON PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION (WCPEC) (A JOINT CONFERENCE OF 45TH IEEE PVSC, 28TH PVSEC & 34TH EU PVSEC)
(2018)
Proceedings Paper
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Amit H. Munshi, Adam H. Danielson, Anna Kindvall, Kurt Barth, Walajabad Sampath
2018 IEEE 7TH WORLD CONFERENCE ON PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION (WCPEC) (A JOINT CONFERENCE OF 45TH IEEE PVSC, 28TH PVSEC & 34TH EU PVSEC)
(2018)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Thomas A. M. Fiducia, Kexue Li, Amit H. Munshi, Kurt Barth, Walajabad S. Sampath, Chris R. M. Grovenor, John M. Walls