Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Wei, Changcheng Cui, Yimeng Li, Zucheng Wu, Yijin Wei, Yaliang Han, Lin Han, Boyang Lu, Xiao Wang, Shuping Pang, Zhipeng Shao, Guanglei Cui
Summary: This study presents a strategy for high-quality CZTSSe absorbers and solar cells by guiding the microstructure of the precursor. By incorporating a proton additive, alcoholysis in the precursor solution is suppressed, and volatiles during baking are reduced, resulting in a smooth and dense precursor film. This film promotes selenization through rapid hetero-nucleation and Ostwald ripening, leading to a CZTSSe absorber with enhanced crystallinity and efficiency of 14.01%.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiazheng Zhou, Xiao Xu, Biwen Duan, Huijue Wu, Jiangjian Shi, Yanhong Luo, Dongmei Li, Qingbo Meng
Summary: Alkali metal doping, particularly Li+, is advantageous for CZTSSe solar cells. The introduction of an organic lithium salt, LiTFSI, has enabled the achievement of 13.2% power conversion efficiency, the highest efficiency for lithium-doping/alloying devices to date. The study investigates the influence of LiTFSI on precursor and selenized absorber films, revealing the decomposition of LiTFSI to LiF during selenization, leading to improved surface morphology and electrical properties of CZTSSe films.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Meiling Ma, Yingrui Sui, Tianyue Wang, Chang Miao, Zhanwu Wang, Lili Yang, Fengyou Wang, Huilian Liu, Meina Yang, Bin Yao
Summary: It has been demonstrated that optimizing the selenization conditions can greatly improve the crystalline structure and morphology of Cr-doped CZTSSe absorber, as well as adjust its band gap. The Cr-doped CZTSSe solar cells under the optimum selenization conditions exhibited the highest conversion efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Benhui Zhao, Yueqing Deng, Lei Cao, Jichun Zhu, Zhengji Zhou
Summary: In this study, a novel technique was used to introduce Sb into the CZTSSe crystal lattice, leading to improved crystallization and grain growth of the CZTSSe absorber layer. Additionally, one of the most detrimental deep defects in the CZTSSe material was effectively passivated, resulting in significantly reduced deep-level traps and band-tail states. As a result, the power conversion efficiency and open-circuit voltage of the CZTSSe solar cell were significantly increased.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiangyun Zhao, Yining Pan, Siliang Liu, Liangxing Jiang, Yanqing Lai, Fangyang Liu
Summary: In this study, a facile and environmentally friendly additive strategy is used to tailor the precursor solution chemistry of CZTS. This approach improves the quality of CZTSSe absorber films and results in a high-performance solar cell device.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
David Payno, Samrana Kazim, Shahzada Ahmad
Summary: In this study, a cation substitution of Zn by Cd was shown to improve the absorber compatibility in a superstrate architecture. All-solution processing using a water and ethanol mixture as green solvents for thin-film deposition was employed. Increasing the Cd amount in the absorber layer improved crystallinity, increased crystal size, decreased band gap, and changed the crystal structure.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
S. Moser, A. N. Tiwari, R. Carron
Summary: Alkali doping and alloying have been proven effective strategies to enhance the performance of CZTSSe thin film solar cells. This study explores the combined effects of Li and Na in a co-doping approach and finds that the concentrations of both alkali elements in the CZTSSe absorber layer depend on each other. Additionally, Li and Na show signs of forming alloys with the CZTSSe phase.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiajia Guo, Yang Mao, Jianping Ao, Yanchen Han, Chun Cao, Fangfang Liu, Jinlian Bi, Shenghao Wang, Yi Zhang
Summary: The study investigates the preparation of CZTSSe thin film using ambient air-processed methods. It demonstrates that high efficiency can be achieved through two-step selenization with the assistance of SnSe2 vapor.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yasir Siddique, Kyungnan Son, Tanka Raj Rana, Syed Dildar Haider Naqvi, Pham Minh Hoang, Asmat Ullah, Huyen Tran, Sang Min Lee, Sungjun Hong, Seung Kyu Ahn, Inyoung Jeong, SeJin Ahn
Summary: A breakthrough in the use of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) molecular ink has led to the fabrication of highly efficient and low bandgap CuIn(S,Se)(2) (CISSe) solar cells. It has been found that DMF ink can be processed in air under certain optimized conditions, without sacrificing device performance. This opens up new possibilities for commercialization while retaining the benefits of solution-based routes.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Xu, Qianqian Gao, Changcheng Cui, Shengjie Yuan, Dongxing Kou, Zhengji Zhou, Wenhui Zhou, Yuena Meng, Yafang Qi, Muhammad Ishaq, Usman Ali Shah, Sixin Wu
Summary: This study develops a novel zinc incorporation strategy to optimize the environmentally friendly Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTSSe) solar cells. The application of a gradient composition ZnxCd1-xS buffer layer significantly reduces interface recombination, thereby improving the performance of the solar cells.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ha Kyung Park, Yunae Cho, Juran Kim, Sammi Kim, Sungjun Kim, Jeha Kim, Kee-Jeong Yang, Dae-Hwan Kim, Jin-Kyu Kang, William Jo
Summary: The effect of stress on flexible CZTSSe photovoltaic devices and its influence on the electronic structure and electrical properties were investigated. The inclusion of Na in CZTSSe resulted in less degraded carrier transport, and the reduction of local open-circuit voltage was greater in convex bending compared to concave bending.
NPJ FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zixuan Yu, Chuanhao Li, Shuo Chen, Zhuanghao Zheng, Ping Fan, Yingfen Li, Manlin Tan, Chang Yan, Xianghua Zhang, Zhenghua Su, Guangxing Liang
Summary: By using a combination of strategies involving SnS and Sn or SnSe or SnSe2, the excessive S and related defects in the selenization process are solved, and the pathway for the formation of CZTSSe is clarified. Adding SnSe2 effectively promotes grain fusion and improves crystalline quality, optimizing the band bending at grain boundaries and suppressing interface recombination. As a result, the open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and short-circuit current density are increased, leading to a state-of-the-art kesterite device with 12.89% efficiency. The unveiled reaction mechanisms have guiding significance for further improving selenization atmosphere and efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yao Gao, Guanchao Yin, Martina Schmid
Summary: In this study, three methods of sodium (Na) incorporation into solution-processed CISSe solar cells were investigated: pre-deposition treatment (Pre-DT), pre-selenization treatment (Pre-ST), and post-selenization treatment (PST). The Pre-ST method showed the best PV performance, achieving a maximum efficiency of 9.6%. Compared to the reference group, the Pre-ST CISSe devices showed improvements in open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and efficiency. Additionally, reductions in open-circuit voltage deficit, back contact barrier, and bulk recombination were observed for Pre-ST CISSe.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Na Zhao, Yingrui Sui, Fancong Zeng, Meiling Ma, Tianyue Wang, Zhanwu Wang, Lili Yang, Fengyou Wang, Huilian Liu, Bin Yao
Summary: This study reports on a bismuth (Bi) doping strategy to improve the surface morphology of a solution-processed CZTSSe film, leading to higher efficiency in solar cells. By using a two-step selenization strategy to facilitate Bi-doped CZTSSe phase formation, the crystalline quality of the absorber is improved, carrier mobility is increased, and band tailing is reduced, resulting in a cell efficiency of 6.94%.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yafang Qi, Na Wei, Yang Li, Dongxing Kou, Wenhui Zhou, Zhengji Zhou, Yuena Meng, Shengjie Yuan, Litao Han, Sixin Wu
Summary: The SnZn defect passivation and heterojunction interface energetics-modification play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se) solar cells. In this study, a cation substitution strategy is proposed to simultaneously modify the absorber and heterojunction interface, leading to improved efficiency. The introduction of an organic silicon salt enables partial substitution of Sn with Si, resulting in reduced defect density and optimized energy level structure. The CZTSSe device with 7% Si substitution achieves a satisfactory efficiency of 13.02% due to increased open-circuit voltage. The Si substitution strategy reported in this study provides inspiration for developing advanced CZTSSe devices with various applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alexandre C. Foucher, Cameron J. Owen, Tanya Shirman, Joanna Aizenberg, Boris Kozinsky, Eric A. Stach
Summary: The dynamical restructuring effects of freestanding Au0.75Pd0.25 nanoparticles in gaseous environments at elevated temperatures were reported. The composition and morphology of the nanoparticles were studied under exposure to different pure gases at various temperatures. The in situ observations showed that gases could induce subtle modification of the surface of nanocatalysts, potentially impacting their chemical properties.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jennifer D. Lee, Zhen Qi, Alexandre C. Foucher, Hio Tong Ngan, Kevin Dennis, Jun Cui, Ilia I. Sadykov, Ethan J. Crumlin, Philippe Sautet, Eric A. Stach, Cynthia M. Friend, Robert J. Madix, Juergen Biener
Summary: The dissociation of H-2 is a crucial step in many industrial chemical reactions. This study introduces a hierarchical nanoporous Cu catalyst doped with small amounts of Ti, which significantly enhances the rate of H-2-D-2 exchange compared to undoped Cu catalysts. Experimental results show that the Ti-doped catalyst exhibits a 5-7 times higher exchange rate than the undoped Cu material under optimized pretreatment and reaction temperatures. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the shift in the rate-determining step from dissociative adsorption on Cu to H/D atom recombination on Ti-doped Cu.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alexandre C. Foucher, Jennifer D. Lee, Zhen Qi, Gengnan Li, Gaoyuan Ouyang, Jun Cui, Jorge Anibal Boscoboinik, Cynthia M. Friend, Juergen Biener, Eric A. Stach
Summary: The use of nanoporous metals as catalysts has attracted significant interest due to their high surface area and density of undercoordinated sites. However, their long-term stability is limited by thermal coarsening. This study demonstrates that the nanoscale morphology of nanoporous Cu can be regenerated by applying oxidation/reduction cycles at 250 degrees C.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
James P. Horwath, Colin Lehman-Chong, Aleksandra Vojvodic, Eric A. Stach
Summary: The surface morphology of heterogeneous catalysts, consisting of supported metallic nanoparticles, plays a crucial role in catalytic activity, selectivity, and degradation rates. However, research on the link between nanoparticle surface structures and degradation rates or mechanisms is limited. In this study, a combination of experimental observations and computational techniques is used to establish an atomistic understanding of how variations in surface structures and atomic coordination environments lead to shifting evolution mechanisms as a function of temperature. The findings reveal a two-step evolution mechanism and provide insights into why sublimation rates vary between nanoparticles in a system of nearly identical particles.
Article
Physics, Applied
Jeffrey X. Zheng, Merrilyn Mercy Adzo Fiagbenu, Giovanni Esteves, Pariasadat Musavigharavi, Akhil Gunda, Deep Jariwala, Eric A. Stach, Roy H. Olsson
Summary: Ferroelectric Al1-xScxN is of interest for its unique ferroelectric properties and compatibility with metal oxide semiconductor back-end-of-line processing. However, for applications in embedded nonvolatile memory, a lower switching voltage is desired. This study demonstrates that reducing the thickness of Al0.72Sc0.28N films can decrease the coercive field and increase the breakdown field. A 5.4nm film showed ferroelectric switching at 5.5V and a switching speed of 60 ns when excited with a 500 ns pulse.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruiquan Yang, Jessica Nelson, Calvin Fai, Hasan Arif Yetkin, Chase Werner, Merielle Tervil, Alexander D. Jess, Phillip J. Dale, Charles J. Hages
Summary: Chalcogenide perovskites have received increasing research attention in recent years due to their unique optoelectronic properties and stability. This study demonstrates a low-temperature growth mechanism for BaZrS3 using a liquid-assisted method and a vapor-transport method. The results show the feasibility of scalable processing for the formation of chalcogenide perovskite thin-films.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alexandre C. Foucher, Daniel J. Rosen, Shengsong Yang, Dario Ferreira Sanchez, Ilia Sadykov, Daniel Grolimund, Anatoly I. Frenkel, Christopher B. Murray, Eric A. Stach
Summary: This article presents the characterization and applications of core-shell Cu-Ir nanocatalysts in oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. By controlling the thickness of the Ir shell, the Cu core can be removed via oxidation to obtain Ir shells, which determine the stability and optimization of the precious metals. Through in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy, the remarkable stability of the Ir shells at high temperatures under oxidative and reductive environments is demonstrated. Electrochemical measurements show that the Cu-Ir nanocatalysts exhibit promising activity and stability compared to a commercial catalyst. Thin Ir shells result in higher surface area per gram of Ir and higher activity, while thicker Ir shells are more stable and exhibit excellent electrochemical properties in aqueous and alkaline environments. Consequently, Ir nanoshells are considered interesting candidates for reducing the cost of catalysis and improving chemical performance in fuel cells.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Yunfei He, Shangyi Chen, Merrilyn Mercy Adzo Fiagbenu, Chloe Leblanc, Pariasadat Musavigharavi, Gwangwoo Kim, Xingyu Du, Jiazheng Chen, Xiwen Liu, Eric A. Stach, Roy H. Olsson, Deep Jariwala
Summary: This letter presents the oriented growth and switching of thin ferroelectric aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) films directly on degenerately doped 4H silicon carbide (SiC) wafers. The high-quality thin Al0.68Sc0.32N films on doped SiC substrates enable the monolithic integration of nonvolatile memory with SiC-based logic devices suitable for high temperature operation as well as high-power switching, memory, and sensing applications.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Merrilyn M. A. Izhar, Merrilyn M. A. Fiagbenu, Pariasadat Musavigharavi, Xingyu Du, Jeff Leathersich, Craig Moe, Abhay A. Kochhar, Eric A. Stach, Ramakrishna H. Vetury, Roy H. Olsson
Summary: This letter presents a K-band bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator constructed from an Al0.72Sc0.28 N periodically poled piezoelectric film. The resonators exhibited dominant resonance responses around 20 GHz, approximately four times higher than the resonance frequencies of similar unpoled devices fabricated on the same wafer. Resonators with a quality factor (Q(p)) of 160 and an electromechanical coupling (k(t)(2)) of 8.23% were achieved. The figure of merits (defined as FoM(I) = k(t)(2) Q(p) and FoM(II) = f(p)FoM(I) x 10(-9)) of the resonator are 13.2 and 274 which are higher than most reported acoustic resonators operating at K-band (18 GHz to 27 GHz) or higher frequency. The experimental results suggest that periodically poled BAW resonators are promising for emerging RF filter and oscillator applications at K-band frequencies.
IEEE ELECTRON DEVICE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Shen, Jian Chang, Rajeev Kumar Rai, Ching-Yu Wang, Eric A. Stach, Raymond J. Gorte, John M. Vohs
Summary: The thermodynamic and structural properties of 1 nm thick films of CeVO4 and LaVO4 supported on & gamma;-Al2O3 were compared to the corresponding bulk rare-earth vanadates. The thin films exhibited different crystalline structures and equilibrium oxygen pressures compared to the bulk materials. Thin-film LaVO4 showed reversible transitions between perovskite and monazite structures, while thin-film CeVO4 showed reversible transitions between perovskite and fluorite structures. The reasons for these differences were discussed.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Kai Shen, Mengjie Fan, Rajeev Kumar Rai, Eric A. Stach, Raymond J. Gorte, John M. Vohs
Summary: Conformal thin films of CeMnOx were deposited on a gamma-Al2O3 support by ALD. The film showed reversible phase transition between reduced perovskite CeMnO3 and oxidized fluorite CeMnO3.5 during redox cycling. The oxidation states of Ce and Mn were determined by XPS and EELS, and the composition of the film under different P(O2) was measured by coulometric titration.
JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hyeongjun Koh, Eric Detsi, Eric A. Stach
Summary: Understanding the nanoscale structure and chemistry of energy storage materials is crucial for battery performance, but characterizing them at high resolution can be challenging due to sample preparation methods. In this study, we used cryogenic lift-out technique to prepare air-sensitive lithium metal and investigated ion-beam damage during sample preparation. Through cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, we found that lithium was not damaged by ion-beam milling, but formed lithium oxide shells in the PFIB/SEM chamber. Cryogenic energy loss spectroscopy confirmed the oxidation of lithium during sample preparation. Our results highlight the importance of understanding how cryogenic lift-out sample preparation affects the high-resolution characterization of reactive battery materials.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brandon C. Vance, Sean Najmi, Pavel A. Kots, Cong Wang, Sungho Jeon, Eric A. Stach, Dmitri N. Zakharov, Nebojsa Marinkovic, Steven N. Ehrlich, Lu Ma, Dionisios G. Vlachos
Summary: Earth-abundant metals have been proven as cost-effective catalysts for polyethylene hydrogenolysis, replacing scarce noble metals. However, the high selectivity for methane production poses challenges for industrial application. In this study, it is demonstrated that ex-situ reduction of coprecipitated nickel aluminate catalysts at low temperatures (350°C) yields a methaneselectivity of less than 5%. Increasing the reduction temperature to 550°C results in a sevenfold increase in methane selectivity. The characterization of the catalyst and the reaction process reveals the role of Ni nanoparticles and Ni2+ cations in methane production. The discovered structure-methane selectivity relationship provides guidance for the design of Ni-based catalysts with low methane generation and paves the way for further understanding of structure-property relationships in plastics hydrogenolysis. These catalysts are also effective for polypropylene hydrogenolysis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoman Zhang, Eric A. Stach, W. J. Meng, Andrew C. Meng
Summary: In this study, epitaxial wurtzite AlScN thin films were grown on Si (111) substrates by ultra-high vacuum reactive sputtering. Sc alloying in AlN enhances piezoelectricity and induces ferroelectricity, making epitaxial thin films suitable for systematic investigations of these materials. Increasing Sc concentration leads to crystalline disorder and a structural transition from wurtzite to rocksalt, as well as nanoscale compositional segregation consistent with spinodal decomposition. The observed composition fluctuations are correlated with polarization domains, suggesting an influence on ferroelectric properties. These results provide a route for creating single crystal AlScN films and self-assembled composition modulation.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yikang Yu, Hyeongjun Koh, Zisheng Zhang, Zhenzhen Yang, Anastassia N. Alexandrova, Mangilal Agarwal, Eric A. Stach, Jian Xie
Summary: The study challenges the traditional understanding of lithium ion transport in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and proposes a new mechanism of one-step pore diffusion. The results suggest that the influence of SEI structure on lithium ion transport kinetics is less significant than previously believed. This finding has potential implications for the design of fast-charging battery materials.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
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)
