Review
Energy & Fuels
Ralph Stephen Hall, Dan Lamb, Stuart James Curzon Irvine
Summary: CdTe is currently the leading commercial thin film photovoltaic technology, but there is much potential for progress towards the Shockley-Queisser limit. Back contact optimization and material choice are critical factors in improving efficiency. Research has explored various back contact materials and processes to identify the most promising groups for further development. Comparisons are drawn with back contact materials used in other thin film photovoltaics like perovskites and kesterites.
ENERGY SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Satoshi Ishii, David Hernandez-Pinilla, Nicholaus K. Tanjaya, Tadaaki Nagao
Summary: Passive radiative cooling during the day can be achieved with highly reflective sunlight and thermal radiation in the mid-infrared region. In this study, the low ultraviolet reflectance of a silver film is compensated by combining it with a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) made of silica and tantalum dioxide multilayers. The samples exhibited high solar reflectance (0.987) and thermal emittance (0.852), and the addition of a polymer improved the thermal emittance (0.926) with a slight decrease in solar reflectance (0.007). Outdoor measurements confirmed the radiative cooling performance of the samples in summer.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hafiz Tariq Masood, Shoaib Anwer, Syed Awais Rouf, Asif Nawaz, Tariq Javed, Tariq Munir, Lianxi Zheng, Wang Deliang
Summary: By utilizing hydrothermally synthesized WO3 nanosheets, a unique thin-film back contact was designed for CdTe solar cells, replacing traditional Cu contacts. The energy barrier at the WO3/CdTe interface was significantly reduced, resulting in improved performance of CdTe thin-film solar cells with WO3 NSs as a buffer layer.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qian Huang, Jing Zhao, Yongliang Chen, Jing Wang, Ying Zhao, Xiaodan Zhang, Guofu Hou
Summary: Light trapping is crucial in the design of photovoltaics with thin absorbers, and incorporating textured surfaces with different nanostructures is a key strategy. Studies have shown that a plasmonic modulated back reflector can effectively improve light-trapping performance and reduce parasitic absorption.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Parisa Zarerasouli, Hamid Bahador, Hamid Heidarzadeh
Summary: This paper discusses the use of a cluster back reflector in an ultra-thin film CIGS solar cell to improve optical parameters. The cluster nanostructure consists of four silver nanoparticles embedded in the back surface of the active layer. Among the studied cases, the cylindrical nanostructure is selected as the most efficient back reflector by optimizing the effective parameters of the plasmonic phenomenon. The analysis mainly focuses on the short-circuit current density, while power conversion efficiency, absorption spectrum, and light transmission are also studied. As a result, the localized surface plasmon resonance enhancement leads to short-circuit current density of 27.2 mA/cm2 and power conversion efficiency of 15.7%, compared to 19 mA/cm2 and 10.7% for the bare state.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xuxiang Guo, Guangcan Luo, Bo Tan, Jing Jiang, Wei Li, Jingquan Zhang
Summary: Highly efficient CdTe solar cells were fabricated with a composite back contact of rGO@CuSCN, prepared by solution processing. CuSCN served as a doping source and electron reflection layer, while rGO acted as a hole transport layer, resulting in reduced back barrier height and improved photovoltaic performance.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
F. Xie, R. Yan, R. Wang, C. C. Bao, J. Wang
Summary: The designed AlGaN solar-blind avalanche photodiode shows improved optoelectronic characteristics compared to conventional APD, with significantly enhanced avalanche gain and reduced avalanche breakdown voltage, attributed to higher holes impact ionization coefficient and generated polarization electric field in the same direction as the applied bias field.
APPLIED PHYSICS A-MATERIALS SCIENCE & PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Biao Zhou, Fan Zhang, Junlin Zhang, Xiutao Yang, Kelin Li, Guanggen Zeng, Bing Li, Jingquan Zhang, Dewei Zhao, Iordania Constantinou, Xia Hao, Smagul Karazhanov, Lianghuan Feng
Summary: The study demonstrates that using perovskite back contact layers can significantly improve the efficiency of CdTe solar cells, mainly due to the reduced charge transportation barrier at the back contact. Additionally, perovskite also improves the overall uniformity of the solar cells.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shafidah Shafian, Ga Eun Lee, Hyeonggeun Yu, Jeung-hyun Jeong, Kyungkon Kim
Summary: Structural coloration is an effective method for coloring a solar cell with minimum optical loss. This study introduces a solution-processed distributed Bragg reflector to achieve efficient and vividly colored solar cells. The reduction in the photocurrent by coloring is minimized, while the power conversion efficiency is improved.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dipendra Pokhrel, Ebin Bastola, Kamala Khanal Subedi, Suman Rijal, Manoj K. Jamarkattel, Rasha A. Awni, Adam B. Phillips, Yanfa Yan, Michael J. Heben, Randy J. Ellingson
Summary: The study investigated the utilization of copper iodide nanoparticles as a hole transport layer in cadmium sulfide/cadmium telluride photovoltaics, achieving significant improvements in device efficiency and fill factor. Solar cells with a CuI/ITO back contact demonstrated photoconversion efficiencies of 11.6% under front illumination and 5.5% under back illumination.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Alexandra M. Bothwell, Jennifer A. Drayton, James R. Sites
Summary: CdTe-based photovoltaic devices have limited performance improvement due to open-circuit voltage. This study addresses this issue by incorporating a CdMgTe electron reflector layer to reduce back-surface recombination. The sputtered CdMgTe layer enables low fabrication temperatures and retains important elements such as chlorine passivation and magnesium. By optimizing the back contact order and parameters of the CdMgTe layer, CdSeTe/CdTe devices achieve a higher efficiency of 16.0% compared to traditional CSS CdMgTe.
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hansol Kim, Mine Kaya, Shima Hajimirza
Summary: In this paper, the structure of the multi-paired SiO2/TiO2 Bragg reflector was optimized to achieve broad-band and broad-angled high solar reflectivity. By allowing the porosity of SiO2 to change, the refractive index contrast in the BR pairs was controlled. The trade-off between the number of pairs and porosity was studied, leading to the demonstration that a 15-pair structure can significantly outperform a quarter-wavelength stack rule design for extraterrestrial irradiance.
Article
Optics
Waqas Farooq, Thamraa Alshahrani, Syed Asfandyar Ali Kazmi, Javed Iqbal, Hassnain Abbas Khan, Mahmood Khan, Arsalan Ahmad Raja, Atteq ur Rehman
Summary: This paper presents a novel architecture to reduce reflection losses in solar cells using the DBR technique, resulting in improved performance parameters. The structure with BSF and DBR pairs shows enhanced performance parameters compared to structures without these layers.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Daniel L. Lepkowski, Tal Kasher, Tyler J. Grassman, Steven A. Ringel
Summary: This study explores the use of epitaxially integrated distributed Bragg reflectors to improve the performance of monolithic GaAs0.75P0.25/Si tandem solar cells by designing an enhanced bandwidth DBR structure. Experimental data-driven analytical modeling shows that the enhancement effect of this DBR structure on current is equivalent to a 1.8x reduction in threading dislocation density, indicating its great potential in mitigating the impact of defect populations.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thuraisamykurukkal Thivakarasarma, Adikari Arachchige Isuru Lakmal, Buddhika Senarath Dassanayake, Dhayalan Velauthapillai, Punniamoorthy Ravirajan
Summary: This study focuses on fabricating efficient CdS/CdTe thin-film solar cells by using thermally evaporated CuI as the hole-transporting material. The results show that CdS/CdTe solar cells with CuI as the hole-transporter have higher power conversion efficiency and stability compared to those with conventional Cu back contacts.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Chenggang Kuang, Ping Tan, Mohsin Javed, Hafiza Humaira Khushi, Sohail Nadeem, Shahid Iqbal, Fwzah H. Alshammari, Mashael D. Alqahtani, Hashem O. Alsaab, Nasser S. Awwad, Hala A. Ibrahium, Guocong Liu, Toheed Akhter, Abdul Rauf, Hamid Raza
Summary: This paper focuses on the synthesis of sulfur-doped reduced graphene oxide/NiS2 nanocomposites for efficient dye degradation through photocatalysis under solar irradiation. The nanocomposites show high efficiency in removing dyes, and can be reused multiple times. Additionally, they have antibacterial effects and can be used for water purification.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Usman Illahi, Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Irfan, Mohamad Ismail Sulaiman, Muhammad Abbas Khan, Abdul Rauf, Inam Bari, Mujeeb Abdullah, Fazal Muhammad, Grzegorz Nowakowski, Adam Glowacz
Summary: This article presents a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna with circularly polarized response for 5G NR Sub-6 GHz band applications, achieving high gain utilization through a uniquely shaped conformal metal feeding strip and successfully achieving circular polarization response and wide impedance matching.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Anwar Ali, Jijun Tong, Javed Iqbal, Usman Illahi, Abdul Rauf, Saeed Ur Rehman, Haider Ali, Muhammad Mansoor Qadir, Muhammad Amir Khan, Rania M. Ghoniem
Summary: This paper presents a circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) for MIMO and 5G Sub 6 GHz applications. The antenna achieves circular polarization for both ports using a novel-shaped conformal metal strip, and improves isolation between radiators with a S shaped defective ground plane structure. Experimental testing verifies the estimated findings.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Noman, Muhammad Shahzaib, Shayan Tariq Jan, Syed Nasir Shah, Adnan Daud Khan
Summary: Formamidinium lead tri-iodide (FAPbI(3)) based perovskite solar cells are more stable than methylammonium lead tri-iodide (MAPbI(3)) counterparts, but have lower power conversion efficiency. This study aimed to enhance the efficiency of FAPbI(3) solar cells while maintaining thermal stability. Numerical analysis was performed on six different proposed structures using various electron and hole transport materials. The best simulation result achieved a PCE of 26.48% with good thermal stability at 300 K.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Muhammad Arif, Urooj Fatima, Abdul Rauf, Zahoor Hussain Farooqi, Mohsin Javed, Muhammad Faizan, Shahid Zaman
Summary: This study reports the synthesis of a new copper-based 2D metal-organic framework using a newly synthesized ABA-MA ligand. The resulting material exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for degrading organic dyes, making it a promising candidate for wastewater treatment.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zeeshan Khan, Muhammad Noman, Shayan Tariq Jan, Adnan Daud Khan
Summary: In this study, 24 novel n-i-p heterostructures of MASnI3 PSC with different electron transport layers and hole transport layers were analyzed. The effects of various factors on the performance of solar cells were monitored, including optical absorption, band offsets, electric field, defect density, interface defects, temperature, rear reflective coating, and electrodes. Among the proposed structures, the ZnO/MASnI3/CNTS based perovskite solar cell showed excellent performance with high current density, voltage, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency. These simulations provide valuable insights into carrier transport mechanisms and factors affecting solar cell performance, contributing to the development of efficient and eco-friendly solar cells.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Muhammad Aneeq, Muhammad Noman, Shayan Tariq Jan, Adnan Daud Khan
Summary: This study investigates the performance of different kesterite materials as hole transport layers and zinc-based materials as electron transport layers in FAPbI(3)-based perovskite solar cells. A total of 24 structures are modeled and optimized, and the effects on optical absorption, quantum efficiency, electric field, I-V characteristics, and recombination are studied. The CBTS/FAPbI(3)/CdZnS structure is found to have the best performance with a PCE of 28.55%, short-circuit current of 26.8 mA cm(-2), open-circuit voltage of 1.19 V, and fill factor of 88.93%.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muhammad Ismail, Muhammad Noman, Shayan Tariq Jan, Muhammad Imran
Summary: This study focuses on the analysis and improvement of FASnI(3)-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by using different inorganic charge transport materials. Copper-based materials and fullerene derivatives are introduced as hole and electron transport layers, respectively. The effect of these materials on various aspects of the cell's performance is studied and the reasons for low performance are identified and improved through design optimization. The best result is achieved with an efficiency of 27.26%, V-oc of 1.08 V, J(sc) of 29.5 mAcm(-2), and FF of 85.6% using ITO/CuSCN/FASnI(3)/C-60/Al structure.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Waqar Ahmad, Muhammad Noman, Shayan Tariq Jan, Adnan Daud Khan
Summary: Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been limited by the structural degradation caused by the presence of organic compounds. In this study, an inorganic non-toxic PSC of caesium germanium tri-iodide (CsGeI3) is numerically modelled and analyzed. The optimized structure of C-60/CsGeI3/CuSCN showed the highest performance with high open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Misbah Umar, Sana Mansoor, Mohsin Javed, Nadia Hussain, Majed A. A. Bajaber, Shahid Iqbal, Ahmad Alhujaily, Ayesha Mohyuddin, Humayun Ajaz, Abdul Rauf, Ali Bahadur, Foziah F. F. Al-Fawzan, Eslam B. B. Elkaeed
Summary: The dark brown and white crystals of manganese and tin (Mn2Se3Cl2O7 and SnSe3O4Cl) were synthesized by solid-state reaction at 450 C. SEM and EDX analysis were used to study the morphology and elemental composition of the newly synthesized compounds. SEM analysis revealed the particle size range of 0.2-2.5 μm for Mn2Se3Cl2O7 and 2.0-6.0 μm for SnSe3O4Cl. EDX studies confirmed the presence of Mn, Se, O, Cl, and Sn elements. Powdered XRD confirmed the presence of a new phase in these compounds.
FRONTIERS IN MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Zunaira Zahid, Abdul Rauf, Mohsin Javed, Ahmad Alhujaily, Shahid Iqbal, Adnan Amjad, Muhammad Arif, Sajjad Hussain, Ali Bahadur, Nasser S. S. Awwad, Hala A. A. Ibrahium, Foziah F. F. Al-Fawzan, Eslam B. B. Elkaeed
Summary: The Ag/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using the template induced method and characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX. The morphology of the samples was controllable by changing the reactants' concentration and calcination temperature. The synthesized composites exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue and reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) under solar irradiation.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Umar Ghafoor, Humayun Zubair Khan, Adil Masood Siddiqui, Mudassar Ali, Abdul Rauf, Arif Wahla, Muhammad Naeem
Summary: In this paper, a hybrid non-orthogonal multiple access (H-NOMA) and mobile user clustering (MUC) strategy is proposed to meet the requirements of high throughput, secure transmission, and minimum interference in beyond-fifth-generation (B5G) networks. The sum-secrecy throughput (SST) maximization problem is addressed using the novel MUC-assisted downlink (DL) H-NOMA strategy in HetNet, and the performance of the proposed strategy is compared with existing strategies in HetNet and a high-powered base station-only (HPS-only) network.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hafiza Mehwish Rasheed, Abdul Rauf, Muhammad Arif, Ayesha Mohyuddin, Muhammad Javid, Sohail Nadeem, Afifa Yousuf, Muhammad Irfan, Shah Muhammad Haroon, Hamid Raza, Sobhy M. Ibrahim, Shams Ul Mahmood
Summary: Water contamination is an increasing problem due to the versatile applications of heavy metal ions, but the selective removal of these ions from wastewater remains an issue. To address this, a ZnO-PVA-coated membrane was developed using a sol-gel process and bio-inspired Azadirachta indica (neem) extract. The membrane successfully removed Pb+2 ions from polluted water solution, with a removal efficiency of 93.99% at pH=4 and a maximum adsorption capacity of 218.47 mg/g.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shayan Tariq Jan, Muhammad Noman
Summary: This study numerically simulated different combinations of materials in perovskite solar cell structures, analyzed the impact of various factors on performance, and identified the most suitable charge transport materials. The results of this research are of great significance for further research and applications of perovskite solar cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shayan Tariq Jan, Muhammad Noman
Summary: Charge transport layers (CTLs) play a significant role in the stability and efficiency of perovskite cells (PSCs). The identification of the right CTL is crucial for the performance of PSCs. Optimizing layer thickness and doping, as well as studying the effect of defects, temperature, reflection, and work functions, can further enhance the efficiency.