Silicon-based Solar Cells Research Articles

Singlet Fission in a New Series of Systematically Designed Through-space Coupled Tetracene Oligomers.

Singlet fission (SF) holds great promise for current photovoltaic technologies, where tetracenes, with their relatively high triplet energies, play a major role for application in silicon-based solar cells. However, the SF efficiencies in tetracene dimers are low due to the unfavorable energetics of their singlet and triplet energy levels. In the solid state, tetracene exhibits high yields of triplet formation through SF, raising great interest about the underlying mechanisms. To address this discrepancy, we designed and prepared a novel molecular system based on a hexaphenylbenzene core decorated with 2 to 6 tetracene chromophores. The spatial arrangement of tetracene units, induced by steric hindrance in the central part, dictates through-space coupling, making it a relevant model for solid-state chromophore organization. We then revealed a remarkable increase in SF quantum yield with the number of tetracenes, reaching quantitative (196 %) triplet pair formation in hexamer. We observed a short-lived correlated triplet pair and limited magnetic effects, indicating ineffective triplet dissociation in these through-space coupled systems. These findings emphasize the crucial role of the number of chromophores involved and the interchromophore arrangement for the SF efficiency. The insights gained from this study will aid designing more efficient and technology-compatible SF systems for applications in photovoltaics.

Advancements in Photovoltaic Cell Materials: Silicon, Organic, and Perovskite Solar Cells.

The evolution of photovoltaic cells is intrinsically linked to advancements in the materials from which they are fabricated. This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in silicon-based, organic, and perovskite solar cells, which are at the forefront of photovoltaic research. We scrutinize the unique characteristics, advantages, and limitations of each material class, emphasizing their contributions to efficiency, stability, and commercial viability. Silicon-based cells are explored for their enduring relevance and recent innovations in crystalline structures. Organic photovoltaic cells are examined for their flexibility and potential for low-cost production, while perovskites are highlighted for their remarkable efficiency gains and ease of fabrication. The paper also addresses the challenges of material stability, scalability, and environmental impact, offering a balanced perspective on the current state and future potential of these material technologies.

A global statistical assessment of designing silicon-based solar cells for geographical markets

A global statistical assessment of designing silicon-based solar cells for geographical markets

Impressive efficiency of zinc oxide-manganese oxide/MAX composite in two-electrode system for photovoltaic-electrolyzer water splitting

The improvement and use of affordable and efficient electrocatalysts for complete water splitting are crucial for the future of energy supply. Here, a hybrid zinc oxide (ZnO)–manganese oxide (Mn3O4)/Ti3AlC2 (MAX) composite produced by a facile hydrothermal synthesis is utilized as a dual-function electrocatalyst for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively). Its well-organized surfaces and bulky porous framework provide numerous catalytically active sites during electrochemical reactions, leading to significant improvement in the HER and OER activities. In particular, the ZnO and Mn3O4 phases increase the catalytic activity of the electrode, while the MAX phase enhances the conductivity and promotes low overpotential Ni sites through charge transfer effects. Consequently, the optimized ZnO-Mn3O4/MAX/Ni foam electrode exhibits relatively low overpotentials (η) of 244 and 340 mV at 20 mA cm−2 for the HER and OER at 1.0 M KOH, respectively. The electrodes also demonstrate exceptional long-term stability during cycling for both the HER and OER. A fully homemade water splitter, using these electrodes as anode and cathode, achieves a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of only 1.62 V. When integrated with commercially available silicon-based solar cells, combined PV-EC water splitting devices enable increased hydrogen generation from stimulated sunlight. This study presents a typical demonstrated and proven strategy for real large-scale solar hydrogen generation using cost-effective PV-EC technology.

Utilization of natural dyes extracted from mustard flower (Genus: Brassica, Species: Napus) as photosensitizer for DSSC: Experimental and computational studies

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are considered as one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies, while exploring alternatives to traditional silicon-based solar cells. Dye sensitizer is a very important component of DSSC and the use of natural dyes in these cells is a promising development for this technology, as it has non-hazardous impact on the environment. This work reports the new natural dye extracted from Brassica Napus flower petals and used as sensitizer in TiO2 based DSSC. UV–Vis spectra showed the presence of carotenoid and flavonoid pigments along with broad absorption in dye loaded TiO2. FITR revealed functional groups in the Brassica Napus dye extract. Mass spectroscopy was used to find major constituents present in extract. With the natural Brassica Napus sensitizer and TiO2, photovoltaic performance results viz. conversion efficiency (ɳ%) 0.062, short circuit current density (Jsc) 0.45 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc) 0.260 V and fill factor (FF) 0.52 were observed. Further, HOMO-LUMO levels of constituents present in Brassica Napus have been measured via CV measurements and compared with relative energetic obtained by computational studies. The transport characteristics revealed from EIS studies were used to rationalize the observed photo-voltaic performance of the DSSC.

Silicon Solar Cells: Trends, Manufacturing Challenges, and AI Perspectives

Photovoltaic (PV) installations have experienced significant growth in the past 20 years. During this period, the solar industry has witnessed technological advances, cost reductions, and increased awareness of renewable energy’s benefits. As more than 90% of the commercial solar cells in the market are made from silicon, in this work we will focus on silicon-based solar cells. As PV research is a very dynamic field, we believe that there is a need to present an overview of the status of silicon solar cell manufacturing (from feedstock production to ingot processing to solar cell fabrication), including recycling and the use of artificial intelligence. Therefore, this work introduces the silicon solar cell value chain with cost and sustainability aspects. It provides an overview of the main manufacturing techniques for silicon ingots, specifically Czochralski and directional solidification, with a focus on highlighting their key characteristics. We discuss the major challenges in silicon ingot production for solar applications, particularly optimizing production yield, reducing costs, and improving efficiency to meet the continued high demand for solar cells. We review solar cell technology developments in recent years and the new trends. We briefly discuss the recycling aspects, and finally, we present how digitalization and artificial intelligence can aid in solving some of the current PV industry challenges.

Enhancement of NiO/Si solar cell by adding porous silicon and a silicon dioxide SiO2 carrier selective layer

In this work, we fabricated a novel heterojunction, Silicon-based solar cell. We used nickel oxide NiO thin films on porous silicon PS separated by a thin silicon dioxide SiO2 carrier-selective layer p-NiO/(SiO2) PS/(n+) Si (Silicon). For comparison, we also manufactured a p-NiO/(n+) Si device. The Atomic Force microscopy AFM and scanning electron microscopy SEM images highlighted the nanoporous pyramidal like structures for p-NiO/(SiO2) PS/(n+) Si devices that decreased the optical reflectivity to 2 %. From the electrochemical study, low resistance and high minority carrier lifetime (1.44 ms) were estimated for p-NiO/(SiO2) PS/n+-Si. The results are promising and agree with a high power conversion efficiency of 19.52 % for p-NiO/(SiO2) PS/n+-Si versus 3.8 % for p-NiO/Si.

Near infrared emissions from both high efficient quantum cutting (173%) and nearly-pure-color upconversion in NaY(WO4)2:Er3+/Yb3+ with thermal management capability for silicon-based solar cells

Raising photoelectric conversion efficiency and enhancing heat management are two critical concerns for silicon-based solar cells. In this work, efficient Yb3+ infrared emissions from both quantum cutting and upconversion were demonstrated by adjusting Er3+ and Yb3+ concentrations, and thermo-manage-applicable temperature sensing based on the luminescence intensity ratio of two super-low thermal quenching levels was discovered in an Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped tungstate system. The quantum cutting mechanism was clearly decrypted as a two-step energy transfer process from Er3+ to Yb3+. The two-step energy transfer efficiencies, the radiative and nonradiative transition rates of all interested 4 f levels of Er3+ in NaY(WO4)2 were confirmed in the framework of Föster-Dexter theory, Judd-Ofelt theory, and energy gap law, and based on these obtained efficiencies and rates the quantum cutting efficiency was furthermore determined to be as high as 173% in NaY(WO4)2: 5 mol% Er3+/50 mol% Yb3+ sample. Strong and nearly pure infrared upconversion emission of Yb3+ under 1550 nm excitation was achieved in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped NaY(WO4)2 by adjusting Yb3+ doping concentrations. The Yb3+ induced infrared upconversion emission enhancement was attributed to the efficient energy transfer 4I11/2 (Er3+) + 2F7/2 (Yb3+) → 4I15/2 (Er3+) + 2F5/2 (Yb3+) and large nonradiative relaxation rate of 4I9/2. Analysis on the temperature sensing indicated that the NaY(WO4)2:Er3+/Yb3+ serves well the solar cells as thermos-managing material. Moreover, it was confirmed that the fluorescence thermal quenching of 2H11/2/4S3/2 was caused by the nonradiative relaxation of 4S3/2. All the obtained results suggest that NaY(WO4)2:Er3+/Yb3+ is an excellent material for silicon-based solar cells to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency and thermal management.

Effect of electron irradiation on perovskite films and devices for novel space solar cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered as one of the strong contenders for next-generation space solar cells due to their advantages of high efficiency, low cost, high specific power, and remarkable irradiation resistance compared with those of silicon-based and III-V compound solar cells. At present, one focuses on the irradiation effects of perovskite solar cells, but there are a few studies on the irradiation damage mechanism of the core perovskite film. To advance the spatial application of perovskite solar cells, this study conducts a comprehensive examination of the performance fluctuations exhibited by mixed-cation perovskite films and solar cells under electron irradiation. Initially, the Monte Carlo method is employed to simulate and predict the effect of electron irradiation on perovskite solar cells. Subsequently, in conjunction with the microstructure characterization and the comparison of optical/electrical performance of perovskite films before and after irradiation, the irradiation damage mechanism of film is elucidated and the electron irradiation reliability of perovskite solar cells is evaluated. The research demonstrates that mixed-cation perovskite film and solar cells exhibit outstanding resistance to electron irradiation. Even when exposed to 100 keV electron irradiation with a cumulative fluence of 5×10<sup>15</sup> e·cm<sup>–2</sup>, the PSCs maintain an average power conversion efficiency of 17.29%, retaining approximately 85% of their initial efficiency. This study provides sound theoretical and experimental evidence for designing the irradiation-resistant reinforcement of new-generation space solar cells, contributing to the improvement of their operational performance and reliability in space applications.

STUDY OF THE CAPACITANCE OF A MONO FACIAL SOLAR CELL BASED ON SILICON UNDER HORIZONTAL MONOCHROMATIC ILLUMINATION IN A DYNAMIC FREQUENCY REGIME : THE EFFECT OF THE WAVELENGTH

In this present work, this is a scientific contribution in the field of research on photovoltaic solar cells. The work is a theoretical study of the effect of wavelength on the capacity of a silicon-based solar cell subjected to horizontal monochromatic illumination in frequency modulation. With the same objectives as most of the authors who work in this field: how to help improve the performance of photovoltaic solar cells. Based on the expression of the density of minority charge carriers, we will study the photovoltage and the capacity. The influence of wavelength on capacity is achieved. The obtained results show that the capacitance efficiency decreases with increasing wavelength.

Measures to Improve the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite materials are considered to be the ideal materials in solar cell production because of their excellent natures, which have received a wide attention. Perovskite solar cell (PSC) is expected to replace the silicon-based solar cell and become the new generation of solar cell technology, because of its low cost, simple process flow and high photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the stability of the PSC has been restricting its commercial development. In recent years, much research has been carried out to improve its stability. This review describes the construction of perovskite material, the composition of PSC and the key factors affecting the stability of PSC, including humidity stability, temperature stability and light stability, then takes inorganic buffer layer, ionic liquids and cation doping three methods as examples to summarize the mechanisms and strategies of improving the stability of PSC, and points out the great potential of multi-functional ionic liquids to improve the stability and efficiency of PSC in future.

Numerical Simulation of Lead-Free Tin and Germanium Based All Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell

The ability to customize the materials bandgaps makes perovskite solar cells a promising candidate for hybrid-tandem applications. This allows them to effectively utilize parts of the solar spectrum that silicon-based solar cells cannot efficiently capture, resulting in higher absorption coefficients. However, there is a lack of research on lead-free all-perovskite tandem solar cells, and secondary data on materials is limited. One of the main challenges in previous studies is the high cost and solid structure of traditional silicon-based solar cells, which require significant storage space. Additionally, lead-based perovskite solar cells pose environmental concerns due to their water solubility and potential harmful effects upon consumption. To address these issues, thin-film perovskite solar cells with liquid solvents are employed in the solar cell design. Lead is replaced with germanium and tin-based perovskites, which exhibit comparable photovoltaic performance to silicon. In the present work, the OghmaNano simulation tool was utilized to conduct numerical simulation of the perovskite design. The perovskite solar cell layers were structured as follows: FTO/ZnO/MAGeI3/Spiro-OMeTAD/FAMASnGeI3/Cu2O/Au. The variables considered included optimum layer thicknesses and bandgaps, as well as the most suitable materials for the ETL and HTL, aiming to obtain the highest efficiency. Based on the simulation results, the proposed perovskite structure shows remarkable photovoltaic parameters. The Voc was measured at 0.84 V Jsc of 16.1 mA/cm2, FF of 0.825, and PCE that reached 11.12%. This project contributes to future research on materials for the ETL and HTL of lead-free, tin and germanium based APTSCs.

Principles, development, and utilization of silicon-based solar cell

Photovoltaic technology is a technology that uses the photoelectric conversion properties of semiconductor materials to convert solar energy into electricity. Photovoltaic technology is a kind of renewable energy technology that does not produce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and has many application prospects. According to data, from 1985 to 2017, the cumulative total installed photovoltaic capacity globally exceeded 400 GW and is expected to grow in the next few years. Photovoltaic technology has become an essential part of renewable energy worldwide. Photovoltaic cells are the core equipment of photovoltaic technology. There are mainly monocrystalline silicon, polysilicon, amorphous silicon, organic solar cells, and other types. Among them, monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells have high photoelectric conversion efficiency, but high cost, mainly used in high-end applications; Polysilicon photovoltaic cells are cost-effective and used primarily in large-scale photovoltaic power station construction; Photovoltaic technology can also be used in mobile chargers, solar streetlights, solar pumps, and other aspects. In addition, photovoltaic technology also has a wide range of application prospects in urban rail transit, automobiles, robots, and other fields also appear. Although photovoltaic technology has many advantages, there are still some problems, such as panel cost, reliability, stability, and storage of photovoltaic power generation. Solving these problems requires continuous upgrading and development of technology. With the progress of technology and the support of policies, it is believed that photovoltaic technology will continue to develop and make more significant contributions to global energy transformation and sustainable development.

Performance mapping of silicon-based solar cell for efficient power generation and thermal utilization: Effect of cell encapsulation, temperature coefficient, and reference efficiency

Characteristic Performance Maps (CPMAPs) are developed for silicon-based solar cells, based on a massive parametric study implemented by a validated thermal-fluid model. These CPMAPs reveal the variation of thermal-, energy-, and exergy-related performance indicators. The studied solar cell integrated with a generic heat sink satisfies the temperature demand within safe solar concentration range. The developed sets of CPMAPs investigate the effect of cell encapsulation, temperature coefficient, and reference efficiency. Findings indicate that reducing the thermal resistance of the intermediate layers between the silicon layer and the heat sink significantly elevates the maximum allowable concentration ratio. Besides, decreasing the thermal resistance of the intermediate layers enhanced the overall exergy efficiency. Furthermore, solar cells with lower temperature coefficients exhibit a minimal impact on expanding the safe range of solar concentration. However, the CPMAPs indicate that such cells are recommended for concentrator photovoltaic systems due to their ability to mitigate the inevitable decrease in electrical efficiency associated with high temperatures under high solar concentration. The use of high-reference efficiency cells slightly expands the safe range of solar concentration and leads to higher electrical exergy efficiency, albeit at the expense of reduced thermal exergy efficiency. Low-reference efficiency cells exhibit a higher potential for combined heat and power applications due to increasing the overall exergy efficiency. In contrary, high-reference efficiency cells are found to be more suitable for power generation applications. The proposed CPMAPs have significant implications, providing a novel roadmap for future research in the quantitative selection and design of photovoltaic systems.

Enhancing the Stability and Efficiency of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with a Mixed Ammonium Ligands Passivation Strategy.

The perovskite solar cell (PSC), which has achieved efficiencies of more than 26%, is expected to be a promising technology that can alternate silicon-based solar cells. However, the performance of PSCs is still limited due to defects and ion migration that occur at the large number of grain boundaries present in perovskite thin films. In this study, the mixed ammonium ligands passivation strategy (MAPS) is demonstrated, which combines n-octylammonium iodide (OAI) and 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) can effectively suppress the grain boundary defects and ion migration through grain boundaries by the synergistic effect of OAI and DAP, resulting in improved efficiency and stability of PSCs. It has also been revealed that MAPS not only enhances crystallinity and reduces grain boundaries but also improves charge transport while suppressing charge recombination. The MAPS-based opaque PSC shows the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.29% with improved open-circuit voltage (VOC ) and fill factor (FF), and retained 84% of its initial PCE after 1900h at 65°C in N2 atmosphere. Amazingly, the MAPS-based semi-transparent PSC (STP-PSC) retained 94% of their maximum power (21.00% at around 10% AVT) after 1000h under 1 sun illumination and MAPS-based perovskite submodule (PSM) achieved a PCE of 19.59%, which is among the highest values reported recently.

Effect of Al2O3/SiO2 ratio on the structure and luminescence properties of Eu3+/Yb3+ co-doped Na2O–CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–F glasses

The Eu3+/Yb3+ co-doped Na2O–CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–F glasses were prepared. Various Al2O3/SiO2 ratios were used and their impact on the structure and optical properties of the glasses was examined. The results indicate that as the content of Al2O3 increases, the propensity for precipitation in the glass intensifies, while its thermal stability diminishes. The transmission spectra reveal that the incorporation of Al2O3 causes a shift towards longer wavelengths in the UV cut-off point of the glasses, which can be attributed to the alteration of the glass's network structure. Consequently, there is an increase in the amount of non-bridging oxygens present, ultimately resulting in a reduction of the optical bandgap. The analysis of luminescent properties suggests that as the Al2O3/SiO2 ratio increases, the luminescence intensity of the Eu3+ ion also increases but that of the Yb3+ ion decreases. The reason for this is that the Al2O3 added to the glass disrupts the symmetry of the surrounding environment where Eu3+ ions exist. As a result, the likelihood of electric dipole transition for these ions is enhanced. Simultaneously, it disrupts the glass network and increases the distance between rare earth ions, leading to a reduction in the luminescence intensity of Yb3+ ions. In addition, the energy transfer process of Eu3+→Yb3+ has potential application prospects in improving the efficiency of silicon-based solar cells by converting ultraviolet light into infrared light.

Light Induced Degradation Quantification by Monitoring the VOC Output of Silicon Solar Cell Using Low-Cost Real-Time Virtual Instrumentation

Silicon-based solar cells suffer from different types of light-induced efficiency losses (can cause up to 10% loss), known as light-induced degradation (LID). Impurities, such as boron, iron, and oxygen, are common at different concentrations in these solar cells. They form active recombination defects in boron-doped mono-crystalline (Cz-Si) and multi-crystalline (mc-Si) solar cells during illumination. For the solar industry, this will lead to serious financial loss, hence the importance of inspecting and controlling the LID level accurately. Seeking to minimize the human factor and the inaccuracy that comes with it, we have proposed in this research a low-cost virtual instrumentation solution to provide a new real-time instrumentation technique for solar cell characteristics such as open circuit voltage (VOC). The virtual data acquisition system (VDAS) design is based on a low-cost Arduino board associated with MATLAB/Simulink software. Moreover, this system can collect in real time the values of solar cell outputs under prolonged illumination and under different temperatures of the LID test. Further, kinetic modeling of the solar cell output VOC variation as a function of light soak duration; shows the predominance of one type metastable defect over the LID test of c-Si solar cells. Additionally, degradation mechanism in mc-Si solar cells involve more than one metastable defect and are more complexes due to the mc-Si substrate elaboration technique compared to c-Si substrate. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the concentrations (NVoc) and the thermal activation energies of the defects have been extracted from the experimental VOC measurements obtained using the VDAS. Finally, the system minimizes the test period and errors for solar cell characterization compared to traditional approaches.

A comprehensive analysis of environmental factors affecting solar cells: Dust accumulation, ambient temperature, and humidity

This paper aims to investigate the impact of environmental factors on solar cells, focusing on dust accumulation, ambient temperature, and humidity. The utilization of solar cells as a renewable source of energy has garnered significant attention in recent years, with three main types of solar cells: silicon-based, thin-film, and calcium titanium ore solar cells. While each type possesses unique strengths and weaknesses, understanding the impact of environmental factors is essential for monitoring quality and assessing their performance. Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels reduces output power by blocking solar radiation transmission, causing uneven shading and reducing heat dissipation. High temperatures also negatively impact PV system operation by reducing the operating voltage of the cells, while humidity can block or diffract sunlight, reducing the output power of the system. This paper provides an analysis of existing literature and empirical studies, aiming to provide valuable insights into improving the efficiency and durability of solar cells and contributing to the widespread adoption of this renewable energy source.

Activation of Al2O3 surface passivation of silicon: Separating bulk and surface effects

Understanding surface passivation arising from aluminium oxide (Al2O3) films is of significant relevance for silicon-based solar cells and devices that require negligible surface recombination. This study aims to understand the competing bulk and surface lifetime effects which occur during the activation of atomic layer deposited Al2O3. We demonstrate that maximum passivation is achieved on n- and p-type silicon with activation at ∼ 450 °C, irrespective of annealing ambient. Upon stripping the Al2O3 films and re-passivating the surface using a superacid-based technique, we find the bulk lifetime of float-zone and Czochralski silicon wafers degrade at annealing temperatures > 450 °C. By accounting for this bulk lifetime degradation, we demonstrate that the chemical passivation component associated with Al2O3 remains stable at activation temperatures of 450─500 °C, achieving an SRV of < 1 cm/s on n- and p-type silicon. In conjunction with the thermal stability, we show that films in the range of 3–30 nm maintain an SRV of < 1 cm/s when annealed at 450 °C. From atomic-level energy dispersive X-ray analysis, we demonstrate that, post deposition, the interface has a structure of Si/SiO2/Al2O3. After activation at > 300 °C, the interface becomes Si/SixAlyO2/Al2O3 due to diffusion of aluminium into the thin silicon oxide layer.

Developing characteristic performance maps of silicon-based solar cells for efficient energy management applications

Developing characteristic performance maps of silicon-based solar cells for efficient energy management applications