Abstract
In this work, we theoretically investigate spectrum dependent energy harvesting of a thin-film indoor photovoltaic (PV) device, taking into account the role of defects. By numerically solving Poisson’s equation and the continuity equation under optical generation-recombination conditions, performance characteristics of a Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4-based thin-film PV device have been evaluated under spectrally varying white light emitting diodes (LEDs). Without any loss of generality, the results of the experimentally validated theoretical model suggest that a thin-film PV device becomes significantly tolerant to both bulk and interface defects when a fraction of blue emission in the white LED spectra remains relatively low. For a white LED having cool white emission characteristics, the efficiency of a CZTSSe-based PV device can equal the efficiency of the CZTSSe solar cell, the experimentally reported champion, while having about two orders of magnitude higher interface defect density, as well as about twenty times higher bulk defect density. In addition, for all practical densities of both types of defects, the efficiency of the indoor PV device remains at least 20% higher than the efficiency obtained under AM1.5 solar irradiation. The underlying reasons behind such observations have been traced back to the wavelength dependent carrier generation recombination dynamics of the thin-film device stack. The results of this work in effect provide guidelines for designing low-cost yet energy-efficient indoor photovoltaic devices with defect-rich thin film material systems.
Highlights
Micro-energy harvesting has been an area of active research over recent years owing to the growing demand for low-cost autonomous power sources for wireless sensors and communication nodes, which altogether form the backbone of the ever-expanding network of the Internet of Things (IoTs).1 The prevalence of energy in the form of light, heat, vibration, radio frequency (RF), and magnetic field offers the prospect of harnessing the otherwise underutilized ambient energy for driving low-power components of IoTs and cyberphysical systems
Indoor photovoltaics is referred to as the technology of harvesting energy from artificial light sources like white light emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), halogen lamps, etc., employing photovoltaic converters, which are conventionally utilized as solar cells to harness energy from solar irradiation
In order to estimate spectra dependent performances of the CZTSSe photovoltaic device, white LEDs having different spectral characteristics have been considered in this study
Summary
Micro-energy harvesting has been an area of active research over recent years owing to the growing demand for low-cost autonomous power sources for wireless sensors and communication nodes, which altogether form the backbone of the ever-expanding network of the Internet of Things (IoTs). The prevalence of energy in the form of light, heat, vibration, radio frequency (RF), and magnetic field offers the prospect of harnessing the otherwise underutilized ambient energy for driving low-power components of IoTs and cyberphysical systems. Scitation.org/journal/adv utility of indoor photovoltaic technology for IoT and cyberphysical applications, the fact that the maximum efficiency limit of an indoor PV device can far exceed the Shockley–Queisser limit of an equivalent solar cell has motivated researchers to investigate indoor PV devices employing different material systems, such as silicon, CdTe, GaAs, GaInP, perovskites, organics, and dye-sensitized materials.. Scitation.org/journal/adv utility of indoor photovoltaic technology for IoT and cyberphysical applications, the fact that the maximum efficiency limit of an indoor PV device can far exceed the Shockley–Queisser limit of an equivalent solar cell has motivated researchers to investigate indoor PV devices employing different material systems, such as silicon, CdTe, GaAs, GaInP, perovskites, organics, and dye-sensitized materials.16 These studies, which focused on performance evaluation of different PV devices under indoor lighting conditions, have been predominantly experimental in nature. The modeling and results described here provide necessary guidelines for designing low-cost indoor PV devices with defect prone thin-film material systems
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