Article
Energy & Fuels
Ju-Guang Hu, Tong Wu, Muhammad Ishaq, Umar Farooq, Shuo Chen, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Zheng-Hua Su, Xiao-Dong Lin, Ping Fan, Hong-Li Ma, Xiang-Hua Zhang, Guang-Xing Liang
Summary: The CZTS thin-film solar cell achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 6.62% through pulsed laser deposition and sulfurization process, attributed to its optimized structure and composition. This research provides a facile and robust preparation method for CZTS films with enhanced photovoltaic properties and increased efficiency.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Elif Peksu, Hakan Karaagac
Summary: In this study, phase-pure CZTS thin films were successfully fabricated on glass substrates using one-step thermal evaporation technique. The optimized CZTS thin films showed a band gap of 1.47 eV and were utilized to construct a TiO2 NRs based solar cell with a record efficiency of 0.61%.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Erkan, A. Yagmyrov, A. Altuntepe, R. Zan, M. A. Olgar
Summary: In this study, CZTS samples were produced on Mo and graphene/Mo coated glass substrates. The CZTS thin films were annealed in sulphur atmosphere using rapid thermal processing method. The results showed that using graphene as an inter-layer improved the crystalline quality and grain size of the CZTS films, leading to enhanced conversion efficiency of the solar cells.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alexandra Tsekou, Filipe Martinho, Denys Miakota, Stela Canulescu, Sara Engberg
Summary: This study investigates the effect of soft-annealing on the efficiency of CZTS kesterite solar cells. The results show that the highest device efficiency of 6.1% is achieved at a soft-annealing temperature of 150 degrees C. Further increase in the soft-annealing temperature leads to a decrease in device efficiency. Raman spectroscopy analysis reveals that soft-annealing affects the Cu/Zn disorder in the CZTS absorbers, with a higher ordering observed at 150 degrees C, which correlates with the highest device efficiency. Additionally, the composition and morphology of the absorbers are minimally affected by the soft-annealing process.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
M. Valdes, A. Hernandez, Y. Sanchez, R. Fonoll, M. Placidi, V Izquierdo, A. Cabas-Vidani, M. Valentini, A. Mittiga, P. Pistor, C. Malerba, E. Saucedo
Summary: This study investigated a novel method of introducing alkali elements in kesterite-based solar cells. The addition of lithium and sodium improved the photovoltaic response of the cells, especially the open-circuit potential. However, a significant amount of alkali elements remained trapped within the CdS layer.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
F. Ynineb, M. Khammar, S. Guitouni, A. Hafdallah, N. Attaf, M. S. Aida
Summary: CZTS thin films were successfully deposited on glass substrate using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) technique with different copper concentrations. The choice of USP method and copper concentration plays a crucial role in the stoichiometry, band gap, and conductivity of sprayed CZTS thin films. A nearly stoichiometric CZTS film with a desirable band gap of 1.51 eV was obtained at a copper concentration of 0.015 M, making it suitable for application as an absorber layer in photovoltaic solar cells.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Harbi Setyo Nugroho, Gema Refantero, Ni Luh Wulan Septiani, Muhammad Iqbal, Septhian Marno, Huda Abdullah, Eka Cahya Prima, Nugraha, Brian Yuliarto
Summary: The increasing demand for energy due to rapid industrial and population growth has resulted in heavy dependence on non-renewable energy and environmental problems. Solar energy has emerged as a promising candidate for renewable energy due to its unlimited sources and lack of pollutants. CZTS(e) solar cells have the potential to reach the Shockley-Queisser limit with low production costs, non-toxicity, and abundant constituent elements, but their current performance still falls below commercial standards.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Yi-Man Zhang, Zhan-Ju Jia, Zong-Yan Zhao
Summary: The study found that the presence of Cu2S secondary phase is not harmful and may even improve the photovoltaic performance of CZTS, while the presence of ZnS secondary phase is detrimental and should be avoided.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tariq AlZoubi, Ahmad Moghrabi, Mohamed Moustafa, Shadi Yasin
Summary: This study introduces a new approach using silicon as a second absorber to enhance the performance of CZTS thin-film solar cell devices, resulting in improved photovoltaic parameters through optimization. The correlation between the two absorbers suggests that maximum efficiency can be achieved with specific absorber thicknesses and doping levels. Additionally, the proposed model shows stable performance even at high operating temperatures.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Igor Perlikowski, Eunika Zielony, Teoman Ozdal, Hamide Kavak
Summary: This study provides valuable data on CZTS kesterite structures, focusing on their fabrication using sol-gel spin coating and chemical bath deposition methods. Raman scattering measurements revealed the formation of a MoS2 interlayer between the CZTS and Mo layers, and current-voltage curves were analyzed to understand the essential electrical properties of the heterostructures. AFM data showed a uniform grain structure on the surface of the samples.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ping Fan, Zhigao Xie, Guangxing Liang, Muhammad Ishaq, Shuo Chen, Zhuanghao Zheng, Chang Yan, Jialiang Huang, Xiaojing Hao, Yi Zhang, Zhenghua Su
Summary: In this study, a highly efficient and ultra-thin CZTS solar cell was obtained using double-pressure sputtering technology. The reduction in damage to the Mo contact surface improved the reflectivity of incident light and promoted the collection of photogenerated carriers.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
N. Akcay, V Gremenok, V. A. Ivanov, E. Zaretskaya, S. Ozcelik
Summary: The effect of a thin Al2O3 barrier layer on the performance of CZTS films was investigated. The crystalline qualities of the films did not change significantly with the addition of the Al2O3 layer. Raman spectra and XPS analysis revealed the formation of secondary phases and compounds on the film surfaces. The presence of the Al2O3 layer resulted in changes in surface morphology and Na diffusion rate.
Article
Optics
F. Belarbi, U. C. Matur, C. Tamin, W. Rahal, S. Benghabrit, N. Baydogan, M. Adnane
Summary: This work aims to study the basic characteristics of CZTS thin films produced by a chemical solution process and conduct a numerical study of CZTS-based solar cells. Sol-gel dip-coating method was used to coat eco-friendly and cost-effective CZTS thin films on glass substrates, enabling the growth of crystalline CZTS thin films without sulfidation processes. Structural and optical properties were analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and UV/Visible spectroscopy. The oxidation states of CZTS thin films were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The performance of CZTS solar cells was investigated using the SCAPS-1D simulator, considering factors such as CZTS absorber layer thickness, carrier doping density, and operation temperature to gain a better understanding of cell properties.
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Nisika, Anupam Ghosh, Kulwinder Kaur, Raja Sekhar Bobba, Quinn Qiao, Mukesh Kumar
Summary: A facile approach to passivate both defect-prone areas of CZTS absorber with a TiO2 buffer layer has been reported to improve electronic properties and carrier transport efficiency. Modulation of electrical properties of CZTS grain boundaries by the presence of oxygen during TiO2 deposition enhances photovoltage generation, leading to decreased carrier recombination and dark current. The findings provide insights into engineering CZTS grain boundaries for controlling electronic properties of CZTS and CZTS/TiO2 heterojunctions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Myo Than Htay, Osamu Imai, Kazutomo Kosaka, Noritaka Momose, Yoshio Hashimoto
Summary: The power conversion efficiency of CdS/CZTS solar cells can be significantly improved by sulfurization under saturated sulfur vapor pressure.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Henrique Limborco, Rodrigo Ribeiro-Andrade, Bruno Cordeiro Silva, Klaus Krambrock
Summary: The study on nanocrystalline selenium poor Sb2Se3 reveals that electrical transport is dominated by a shallow acceptor at low temperature and a deep donor at high temperature. Experimental techniques confirm the existence of a contradictory shallow acceptor and suggest the presence of an unreported shallow defect.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Andre F. Violas, Antonio J. N. Oliveira, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Tomas S. Lopes, Joao R. S. Barbosa, Paulo A. Fernandes, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells are high-performance thin-film technologies that can benefit from post-deposition treatments (PDT) and ultrathin absorbers. However, electrical and optical limitations hinder their widespread implementation. In this study, an updated and experimentally based baseline model for electrical simulations in SCAPS software is developed, incorporating PDT effects and improved optical accuracy. The model is validated with champion solar cells and applied to ultrathin CIGS devices, paving the way for an ultrathin baseline model. Simulation results show that addressing inherent limitations can achieve ultrathin solar cells with high power conversion efficiency.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kevin Oliveira, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Wei-Chao Chen, Jackson Lontchi Jioleo, Antonio J. N. Oliveira, Ihsan Caha, Leonard Deepak Francis, Denis Flandre, Marika Edoff, Paulo A. Fernandes, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: In this study, SiO$_x$ passivation based substrates were developed and integrated into ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se$_2$ (CIGS) solar cells to investigate the impact of SiO$_x$ layer thickness on the device performance. Experimental study and optical/electrical simulations were conducted to decouple the optical and electronic gains of the SiO$_x$ layer, allowing for a detailed analysis of its effect on the CIGS solar cell performance. The results showed that an increase in passivation layer thickness led to a rise in parasitic losses, indicating the importance of finding a balance between beneficial passivation and optical effects with harmful architectural constraints to achieve optimal solar cell performance.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Helena Alberto, Rui C. Vilao, Eduardo F. M. Ribeiro, Joao M. Gil, Marco A. Curado, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Paulo A. Fernandes, Jose M. Cunha, Pedro M. P. Salome, Marika Edoff, Maria Martins, Thomas Prokscha, Zaher Salman, Alois Weidinger
Summary: As devices become smaller and more complex, the interfaces between materials become more important in determining device performance. In this study, low-energy muon spin rotation (mu SR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the interface between the chalcopyrite Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 absorber and various buffer layers. Depth resolution in the nm range was achieved by implanting the muons at different energies. The study revealed a region near the interface where the lattice was more distorted than within the absorber, attributed to a long-range strain field caused by defects. The measurements allowed quantification of the passivation effect of the buffer layers, with cadmium sulfide providing the best defect passivation in the near interface region. The experiment demonstrated the potential of low energy mu SR spectroscopy for studying interfaces in multilayer systems.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Geovani Torezin Mendonca, Mateus Cassaboni Stracke, Bruna de Oliveira Coelho, Heloisa Bruna Soligo Sanchuki, Viviane Klassen de Oliveira, Fabricio Klerynton Marchini, Dalila Luciola Zanette, Mateus Nobrega Aoki, Emilson Ribeiro Viana, Lucas Blanes
Summary: This work presents the development of a portable Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) instrument for Point-of-Care (POC) diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 using Reverse-Transcription Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). The instrument utilizes a Raspberry Pi computer, a video camera, an Arduino Nano microcontroller, a printed circuit board as a heater, and a 3D printed housing. The chips are made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and are sealed with a PCR optic plastic film. The chip temperature is precisely controlled using a PID algorithm. The diagnostic process involves color image recognition and achieves an accuracy of 86% when compared to the results obtained by conventional PCR equipment.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
E. R. Viana, N. Cifuentes, J. C. Gonzalez
Summary: The electronic transport properties of Te roll-like nanostructures were investigated in a broad temperature range. The nanostructures exhibited p-type conductivity with enhanced hole mobility at low temperatures, and nearest-neighbor hopping conduction dominated at high temperatures. These results demonstrate the potential applications of these nanostructures in nanodevices.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Daniel Rocha, Joao Alves, Vitor Lopes, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Paulo A. Fernandes, Mauro Costa, Modesto Morais, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with high-resolution optical and infrared (IR) imaging have been used for fast and cost-effective inspections in solar power plants. However, the analysis of the acquired images is still time-consuming and requires trained professionals. This study compares the performance of mask R-CNN and U-Net for image analysis in a 10-MW solar power plant, achieving high precision and outperforming U-Net in terms of IoU.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rodrigo de Lazzari, Edgar H. Souza, Susan Y. Zanetti, Emilson R. Viana, Anna L. M. C. Malthez
Summary: In this study, the sensitivity of a newly designed OSL system was compared with two commercial systems by performing OSL readouts of Al2O3:C irradiated with different doses. The newly designed system used a cluster of blue LEDs for optical stimulation in both continuous wave (CW-OSL) and pulsed (POSL) modes, and a bandpass filter was used for detection. The results showed that the developed reader could be used for OSL readouts of detectors exposed to both low doses in POSL mode and high doses in CW-OSL mode.
RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
T. S. Lopes, J. P. Teixeira, M. A. Curado, B. R. Ferreira, A. J. N. Oliveira, J. M. V. Cunha, M. Monteiro, A. Violas, J. R. S. Barbosa, P. C. Sousa, I. caha, J. Borme, K. Oliveira, J. Ring, W. C. Chen, Y. Zhou, K. Takei, E. Niemi, F. L. Deepak, M. Edoff, G. Brammertz, P. A. Fernandes, B. Vermang, P. M. P. Salome
Summary: The study demonstrates the incorporation of interface passivation structures in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se-2 based solar cells. A scalable lithography technique, nanoimprint lithography (NIL), was used to pattern a 15 x 15 cm(2) dielectric layer. The performance of devices with NIL nanopatterned dielectric layer was similar to that of devices with electron-beam lithography (EBL) patterning. The impact of lithographic processes on solar cell performance was evaluated, with stainless-steel substrates showing slightly lower performance but good mechanical stability.
NPJ FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Joelton Deonei Gotz, Gabriel Carrico Guerrero, Jose Renan Holanda de Queiroz, Emilson Ribeiro Viana, Milton Borsato
Summary: The rapid growth of the electric car industry in recent years is driven by the use of stable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Although LIBs are widely used in energy storage systems for electric mobility, laptops, and cell phones, they are still prone to failures that can pose security and performance issues. To identify failures at an early stage, this study applies six classification machine learning models to LIBs, achieving a sensitivity rate of over 94% for mechanical, electrical, and thermal failures. The random forest model performs the best with a sensitivity rate over 97%. This approach can effectively detect failures in LIBs and has the potential to be integrated into vehicles for online abuse classification, reducing security and performance risks.
ENGINEERING FAILURE ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Joelton Deonei Gotz, Joao Eustaquio Machado Neto, Jose Rodolfo Galvao, Taysa Millena Banik Marques, Hugo Valadares Siqueira, Emilson Ribeiro Viana, Manoel H. N. Marinho, Mohamed A. Mohamed, Adrian Ilinca, Fernanda Cristina Correa, Milton Borsato
Summary: The increased adoption of electric vehicles has led to a demand for new energy storage systems, with Lithium-ion batteries being the mainstream technology. However, the complex configuration of the batteries complicates the diagnosis of misuse and failure. This study conducted experiments on a mini-packing of four cells to simulate the main abuses found in Lithium-ion batteries. The results showed that current, temperature, and voltage can be used to identify external short-circuit failures, voltage signature can determine Over-Charging, and the combination of temperature and voltage can identify and locate Over-Discharging failures.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Antonio J. N. Oliveira, Jennifer P. Teixeira, Duarte Ramos, Paulo A. Fernandes, Pedro M. P. Salome
Summary: Light management is crucial for the expansion of CIGS technology market, as it can improve conversion efficiency and reduce costs. However, there are fabrication and architecture constraints that hinder the direct transfer of light management strategies from other photovoltaic technologies. This study analyzes the demand for light management in thin and ultrathin CIGS cells and identifies three main pathways to tackle optical losses. The review provides insights into the challenges and developments of light management architectures, presenting a research roadmap for future works in this area.
ADVANCED PHOTONICS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Diogo F. Carvalho, Manuel A. Martins, Paulo A. Fernandes, M. Rosario P. Correia
Summary: Understanding the plasmonic coupling between metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in a 2D array and the effect of a semiconductor substrate is crucial for optimizing optoelectronic structures. This study presents a simple semi-analytical approach based on the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) to simulate the far-field and near-field properties of NP arrays, taking into account particle coupling and the presence of a semiconductor substrate. The method is validated for Ag NP dimers and single Ag NPs on a GaN substrate, and then applied to square and random arrays of Ag NPs. It is found that increasing the NP surface density on a GaN substrate results in a redshift of the dipolar resonance frequency and enhanced near-field properties. The single dipole approach used in this model allows for efficient computational times, making it advantageous for predicting optical properties in large NP arrays on semiconductor substrates for various applications.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
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)
