Silicon-Based Technologies for Flexible Photovoltaic (PV) Devices: From Basic Mechanism to Manufacturing Technologies.

Chung Wung Bark,Van Quy Hoang,Sangmo Kim

doi:10.3390/nano11112944

Chung Wung Bark, Van Quy Hoang + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112944

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Abstract

Over the past few decades, silicon-based solar cells have been used in the photovoltaic (PV) industry because of the abundance of silicon material and the mature fabrication process. However, as more electrical devices with wearable and portable functions are required, silicon-based PV solar cells have been developed to create solar cells that are flexible, lightweight, and thin. Unlike flexible PV systems (inorganic and organic), the drawbacks of silicon-based solar cells are that they are difficult to fabricate as flexible solar cells. However, new technologies have emerged for flexible solar cells with silicon. In this paper, we describe the basic energy-conversion mechanism from light and introduce various silicon-based manufacturing technologies for flexible solar cells. In addition, for high energy-conversion efficiency, we deal with various technologies (process, structure, and materials).

Highlights

Manufacturing Technologies.Over the past decade, the global energy crisis, while subject to traditional problems such as global warming, ozone depletion, carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and decreasing availability of fossil energy, is facing new challenges [1,2,3]
The total power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of a solar cell depends on process steps 1–4
IQE is higher than External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) because all irradiated light is not absorbed in the active layer and all photogenerated electron–hole pairs are generated out of the solar cell [15]

Summary

Introduction

Manufacturing Technologies.Over the past decade, the global energy crisis, while subject to traditional problems such as global warming, ozone depletion, carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and decreasing availability of fossil energy (oil, gas, and coal), is facing new challenges [1,2,3]. Newly developing countries require much more energy for their growth. Future technology, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), will require more energy. Many non-renewable energies are produced in limited amounts in specific parts of the world and take a long time to replenish, making energy more abundant for some nations than others. Renewable energy sources are found anywhere on Earth, making them more abundant depending on know-how and technology [5,6]. Approximately 1.7 × 1017 W of Sol. Energy irradiates the Earth, which is more than 10,000 times the global energy consumption [6,7]

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