Special Issue: “Advanced Thin Film Materials for Photovoltaic Applications”

Imyhamy M Dharmadasa

doi:10.3390/coatings10060562

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) technology is rapidly entering the energy market, providing clean energy for sustainable development in society, reducing air pollution. In order to accelerate the use of PV solar energy, both an improvement in conversion efficiency and reduction in manufacturing cost should be carried out continuously in the future. This can be achieved by the use of advanced thin film materials produced by low-cost growth techniques in novel device architectures. This effort intends to provide the latest research results on thin film photovoltaic solar energy materials in one place. This Special Issue presents the growth and characterisation of several PV solar energy materials using low-cost techniques to utilise in new device structures after optimisation. This will therefore provide specialists in the field with useful references and new insights into the subject. It is hoped that this common platform will serve as a stepping-stone for further development of this highly important field.

Highlights

In the past, photovoltaic device development was mainly based on simple p-n homo- or heterojunction type structures
A monograph has been published [3] on this subject and the search for low-cost, advanced thin film materials is essential for the development of next-generation PV devices based on graded band-gap multi-layer solar cells
The seven articles provide information on perovskite, SnS/SnS2, CdTe, CIGS, silicon and transparent conducting oxide (SnO2) materials used in solar cell development

Summary

Introduction

Photovoltaic device development was mainly based on simple p-n homo- or heterojunction type structures. The new device architectures were fabricated using low-cost electroplated materials, and has achieved 15.3% efficiency to date. A monograph has been published [3] on this subject and the search for low-cost, advanced thin film materials is essential for the development of next-generation PV devices based on graded band-gap multi-layer solar cells. The seven articles provide information on perovskite, SnS/SnS2, CdTe, CIGS, silicon and transparent conducting oxide (SnO2) materials used in solar cell development.

Results

Conclusion