Article
Chemistry, Physical
Algimantas Ivanauskas, Remigijus Ivanauskas, Ingrida Ancutiene
Summary: A study was conducted on the deposition of indium-incorporated copper selenide thin films on a glass substrate using the SILAR method. The films showed a mixture of compounds including Se, Cu0.87Se, In2Se3, and CuInSe2, with optical properties corresponding to copper selenide and indium selenide semiconductors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenbo Lu, Zongbao Li, Mingjie Feng, Hui-Juan Yan, Bin Yan, Liyan Hu, Xing Zhang, Shunchang Liu, Jin-Song Hu, Ding-Jiang Xue
Summary: Elemental selenium has regained attention as a potential photovoltaic material due to its wide bandgap, non-toxic composition, and environmental stability. By modifying its wettability and understanding its air stability mechanism, researchers have successfully fabricated efficient selenium solar cells.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Changshun Chen, Jianxin Chen, Huchen Han, Lingfeng Chao, Jianfei Hu, Tingting Niu, He Dong, Songwang Yang, Yingdong Xia, Yonghua Chen, Wei Huang
Summary: Researchers have developed a new screen-printing method for fabricating perovskite solar cells, achieving high energy conversion efficiencies. This method is not affected by humidity, and the fabrication process is simple and suitable for large-scale production.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rasmus Nielsen, Tobias H. Hemmingsen, Tobias G. Bonczyk, Ole Hansen, Ib Chorkendorff, Peter C. K. Vesborg
Summary: This study presents a laser-annealing strategy for crystallizing selenium thin-films, improving their optoelectronic quality and providing a new approach for high-efficiency selenium solar cells.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
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.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Lian Qiu, Kun Chen, Dan Yang, Min Zhang, Xia Hao, Wei Li, Jingquan Zhang, Wenwu Wang
Summary: Multilayered MoO3/Cu thin films were prepared using thermal evaporation and thermal treatments, where MoO2 phase predominantly appeared in the thin films after annealing at temperatures higher than 450°C. The band gaps and conductivity activation energies of the thin films decreased with increasing annealing temperature, with MoO2 thin films exhibiting the smallest band gap and activation energy. These findings suggest potential applications of reduced molybdenum suboxides as back contact materials for CdTe solar cells.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chun Huang, Chuanwei Huang, Yiqun Ni, Peng Lin, Nianqing Fu, Bo Fan, Baomin Xu, Wenfei Zhang
Summary: This study successfully controlled the hydrolysis intermediate species by adjusting the metal-halide chemical bonding strength, achieving a method for preparing high-quality SnO2 films using low-temperature solution. The SnO2 film helps to improve charge separation and transport efficiency in PSCs, while reducing charge recombination.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Huipei Gong, Meng Cao, Yucheng Jiang, Liying Sun, Yue Shen, Linjun Wang
Summary: In this study, SnSxSe1-x nanosheets were prepared using a one-pot method and silver nanoparticles were deposited on their surface. The structural and performance properties were characterized through various techniques. It was found that the modification with silver nanoparticles enhanced the photoelectrochemical properties of SnSxSe1-x nanosheets, with the SnS0.5Se0.5 thin film exhibiting the best performance.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rasmus Nielsen, Tomas H. Youngman, Andrea Crovetto, Ole Hansen, Ib Chorkendorff, Peter C. K. Vesborg
Summary: Elemental selenium is considered a suitable photoabsorber material for tandem photovoltaic devices, but CdS is found to be a poor partner due to its bandgap and electron affinity not being optimal for efficient carrier absorption and transport in selenium devices.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(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
Energy & Fuels
Adam B. Phillips, Jared D. Friedl, Philip Ottinger, Steven L. Carter, Zhaoning Song, Abasi Abudulimu, Ebin Bastola, Deng-Bing Li, Yanfa Yan, Randy J. Ellingson, Michael J. Heben
Summary: Numerical modeling is used to investigate the performance of bifacial thin film solar cells under front, back, and simultaneous illumination through both interfaces. It is found that downward band bending near the back interface is reduced under low carrier concentration conditions, but still affects minority carrier distribution at relatively high doping conditions. The power generated under bifacial illumination exceeds the sum of power from solely front or back illumination, and the performance is independent of the angle of light entering the back interface. However, under real-world albedo conditions, significant loss in frontside power generation is difficult to overcome with back illumination.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shanmuganathan Venkatesan, Nguyen Huong Tra My, Hsisheng Teng, Yuh-Lang Lee
Summary: Thin films of solid-state polymer electrolytes (SSPEs) have been developed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) for the first time. Gel-electrolytes are prepared by utilizing a blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) and an acetonitrile-based iodide liquid electrolyte, and then cast onto a glass substrate to fabricate solvent-free SSPEs by evaporating the solvent. The SSPE films are sandwiched between photoelectrodes and counter electrodes to assemble the solid-state DSCs, and the PCE can be improved by introducing TiO2 nanofillers in the SSPEs. The high stability of the solid-state DSCs is demonstrated with a retention of 98% of their original efficiency after a 700-hour test period.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kuan Liu, Patrick W. K. Fong, Qiong Liang, Gang Li
Summary: This review summarizes the recent progress in upscaling of organic-inorganic halide perovskites processed in an ambient environment. It discusses the challenges and limitations involved, as well as provides a brief overview of robust strategies for the fabrication of efficient perovskite solar cells using printing-friendly techniques under ambient conditions, which are crucial for future deployment of this technology.
TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiang Li, Shurong Wang, Hua Liao, Shuai Yang, Xinyu Li, Tingbao Wang, Xin Liu, Qiulian Li, Jingjin Li
Summary: The impact of selenium-containing precursors on the performance of CZTSe thin films and solar cells was investigated through magnetron sputtering. It was found that CZTSe thin films annealed at 530°C exhibited the best crystallization quality, with flat and dense surfaces and no obvious secondary phases. The maximum power conversion efficiency of the solar cells was 3.65%, with a maximum mobility of 4.33 cm(2)V(-1)S(-1).
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xuerui Han, Chengwu Shi, Yuye Huang, Kai Lv, Wangchao Chen, Fuling Guo, Yanqing Wang
Summary: CdS thin films were prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD), and Sb2S3-y Se (y) thin films were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The quality of CdS thin films as the electron transport layer was evaluated in solar cells with the architecture of FTO/CdS/Sb2S3-y Se (y)/spiro-OMeTAD/Au. A precise preparation strategy, involving adjusting the thickness of CdS thin films prepared by CBD and changing the concentration of the CdCl2 methanol solution in the post-treatment process, was proposed for the first time. The strategy allowed for the successful production of a compact and full-coverage CdS thin film with a thickness of 40 nm and achieved an optimal power conversion efficiency of 8.46%.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
