Light trapping for a‐Si:H/µc‐Si:H tandem solar cells using direct pulsed laser interference texturing

We present a‐Si:H/µc‐Si:H tandem solar cells on laser textured ZnO:Al front contact layers. Direct pulsed laser interference patterning (DLIP) was used for writing arrays of one‐dimensional micro gratings of submicron period into ZnO:Al films. The laser texture provides good light trapping which is indicated by an increase in short‐circuit current density of 20% of the bottom cell limited device compared to cells on planar ZnO:Al. The open‐circuit voltage of the cells on laser textured ZnO:Al is almost the same as for cells on planar substrates, indicating excellent growth conditions for amorphous and microcrystalline silicon on the U‐shaped grating grooves. DLIP is a simple, single step and industrially applicable method for large area periodic texturing of ZnO:Al thin films. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nanoimprint texturing of transparent flexible substrates for improved light management in thin‐film solar cells

We present a nanoimprint based approach to achieve efficient light management for solar cells on low temperature transparent polymer films. These films are particularly low‐priced, though sensitive to temperature, and therefore limiting the range of deposition temperatures of subsequent solar cell layers. By using nanoimprint technology, we successfully replicated optimized light trapping textures of etched high temperature ZnO:Al on a low temperature PET film without deterioration of optical properties of the substrate. The imprint‐textured PET substrates show excellent light scattering properties and lead to significantly improved incoupling and trapping of light in the solar cell, resulting in a current density of 12.9 mA/cm², similar to that on a glass substrate. An overall efficiency of 6.9% was achieved for a flexible thin‐film silicon solar cell on low cost PET substrate. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

有机无机杂化固态太阳能电池的研究进展

近年来, 由于钙钛矿材料优良的光学吸收和电荷传导特性, 有机无机杂化固态太阳能电池取得了突破性的进展. 自2009年首次报道了光电转换效率为3.8%的钙钛矿太阳能电池以来, 该类电池的效率不断突破. 基于介孔薄膜的电池已取得了超过16.7%的认证光电转换效率, 基于平板异质结结构电池光电转换效率达到19.3%, 已接近传统硅基太阳能电池的光电转换效率. 本文将介绍有机无机杂化钙钛矿作为光电材料的光学物理结构特性, 以及在固态太阳能电池中的应用. 基于固态钙钛矿太阳能电池结构上的差异, 分别介绍其在多孔结构、平板异质结结构、柔性结构以及无空穴传导材料结构电池工作特性和各自优势, 以及影响电池特性的主要影响因素, 特别是钙钛矿成膜控制等. 并阐述对钙钛矿电池的理解和进一步提高固态钙钛矿电池光电转换效率需要关注的重点以及展望.     

Study of detached back reflector designs for thin‐film silicon solar cells

We present a precise and flexible method to investigate the impact of diverse detached reflector designs on the optical response of p–i–n thin‐film silicon solar cells. In this study, the term detached reflectors refers to back reflectors that are separated from the silicon layers by an intermediate rear dielectric of several micrometers. Based on the utilization of a highly conductive n‐doped layer and a local electrical contact scheme, the method allows the use of non‐conductive rear dielectrics such as air or transparent liquids. With this approach, diverse combinations of back reflector and rear dielectric can be placed behind the same solar cell, providing a direct evaluation of their impact on the device performance. We demonstrate the positive effect of a rear dielectric of low refractive index on the light trapping and compare the performance of solar cells with an air/Ag and a standard ZnO/Ag back reflector design. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Zinc oxide nanoparticles for improvement of thin film photovoltaic structures’ efficiency through down shifting conversion

The paper presents the idea to improve the performance of thin film photovoltaic cells by a light capture enhancement through the introduction of down shifting energy converters. Luminescent down shifting layers convert high-energy photons (UV light) into low-energy ones (visible light), which are more efficient in a photovoltaic conversion. For this purpose, the application of a thin layer composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles deposited onto a thin film solar cell is proposed. The paper presents both experimental and theoretical results of this approach. Conducted investigations include an analysis of ZnO nanoparticle layers, deposited in two independent technology methods. The results showed that ZnO nanoparticles have a great potential of application as down converting layers and can be implemented to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, especially in the field of thin film PV structures. The proposed new deposition method can potentially be used in some industrial photovoltaic applications.     

Improved growth of solution‐deposited thin films on polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2

CdS and Zn(O,S) grown by chemical bath deposition (CBD) are well established buffer materials for Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells. As recently reported, a non‐contiguous coverage of CBD buffers on CIGS grains with {112} surfaces can be detected, which was explained in terms of low surface energies of the {112} facets, leading to deteriorated wetting of the chemical solution on the CIGS surface. In the present contribution, we report on the effect of air annealing of CIGS thin films prior to the CBD of CdS and Zn(O,S) layers. In contrast to the growth on the as‐grown CIGS layers, these buffer lay‐ ers grow densely on the annealed CIGS layer, even on grains with {112} surfaces. We explain the different growth behavior by increased surface energies of CIGS grains due to the annealing step, i.e., due to oxidation of the CIGS surface. Reference solar cells were processed and completed by i‐ZnO/ZnO:Al layers for CdS and by (Zn,Mg)O/ZnO:Al for Zn(O,S) buffers. For solar cells with both, CdS and Zn(O,S) buffers, air‐annealed CIGS films with improved buffer coverage resulted in higher power‐conversion efficiencies, as compared with the devices containing as‐grown CIGS layers. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Improving light trapping and conversion efficiency of amorphous silicon solar cell by modified and randomly distributed ZnO nanorods

Three-dimensional （3D） nanostructures in thin film solar cells have attracted significant attention due to their appli- cations in enhancing light trapping. Enhanced light trapping can result in more effective absorption in solar cells, thus leading to higher short-circuit current density and conversion efficiency. We develop randomly distributed and modified ZnO nanorods, which are designed and fabricated by the following processes： the deposition of a ZnO seed layer on sub- strate with sputtering, the wet chemical etching of the seed layer to form isolated islands for nanorod growth, the chemical bath deposition of the ZnO nanorods, and the sputtering deposition of a thin Al-doped ZnO （ZnO：Al） layer to improve the ZnO/Si interface. Solar cells employing the modified ZnO nanorod substrate show a considerable increase in solar energy conversion efficiency.     

CZTS‐based materials and interfaces and their effects on the performance of thin film solar cells

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) and its related materials such as Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ (CZTSe) and Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) have attracted considerable attention as an absorber material for thin film solar cells due to the non‐toxicity, elemental abundance, and large production capacity of their constituents. Despite the similarities between CZTS‐based materials and Cu(In,Ga)Se₂(CIGS), the record efficiency of CZTS‐based solar cells remains significantly lower than that of CIGS solar cells. Considering that the difference between the two lies in the choice of the absorber material, the cause of the lower efficiency of CZTS‐based solar cells can be isolated to the issues associated with CZTS‐based materials and their related interfaces. Herein, these issues and the work done to understand and resolve them is reviewed. Unlike existing review papers, every unique region of CZTS‐based solar cells that contributes to its lower efficiency, namely: (1) the bulk of the absorber, (2) the grain boundaries of the absorber, (3) the absorber/buffer layer interface, and (4) the absorber/back contact interface are surveyed. This review also intends to identify the major unresolved issues and the potential improvement approaches of realizing sizable improvements in the solar cells' efficiency, thus providing a guide as to where research efforts should be focused. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

PbS colloidal quantum dot/ZnO‐based bulk‐heterojunction solar cells with high stability under continuous light soaking

PbS colloidal quantum dot (CQD)‐based depleted bulk‐heterojunction solar cells were constructed, using the 1.2 μm thick nanowire array infiltrated with PbS QDs bearing Br ligands. The long‐term stability tests were performed on the solar cells without encapsulation in air under continuous light soaking using a Xe lamp with an AM1.5G filter (100 mW cm^?2). Time course of solar cell performances during the tests showed two time periods with distinct behavior, that is, the initial transient time period and the relatively stable region following it. The power conversion efficiency was found to keep approximately 90% of the initial value at the end of the 3000 h light soaking test. The stability tests suggest that the PbS surface modification or passivation reactions play an important role in achieving such a high stability, and demonstrate that PbS CQD/ZnO nanowire array‐based depleted bulk‐heterojunction solar cells are highly stable. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Metal oxide buffer layer for improving performance of polymer solar cells

We report the application of aluminum doped ZnO (ZnO:Al) layer as a buffer on ITO glass for fabrication of non-inverted polymer solar cells. The ZnO:Al thin film was deposited using DC magnetron sputtering, with the thickness being varied from 23 to 100 nm. The devices showed most discernible improvements in their efficiencies when a thin layer of ZnO:Al film of thickness ∼40 nm was introduced. The observed enhancement in short circuit current density and open circuit voltage is likely attributed to the role of the ZnO:Al film as an optical tuner and an interfacial diffusion barrier. The result suggests that a metal oxide layer inserted between ITO and polymer layers can be a route for improving both efficiency and stability of polymer solar cells.     

The investigation of ZnO：Al2O3/metal composite back reflectors in amorphous silicon germanium thin film solar cells

Different aluminum-doped ZnO （AZO）/metal composite thin films, including AZO/Ag/Al, AZO/Ag/nickelchromium alloy （NiCr）, and AZO/Ag/NiCr/Al, are utilized as the back reflectors of p-i-n amorphous silicon germanium thin film solar cells. NiCr is used as diffusion barrier layer between Ag and Al to prevent mutual diffusion, which increases the short circuit current density of solar cell. NiCr and NiCr/AI layers are used as protective layers of Ag layer against oxidation and sulfurization, the higher efficiency of solar cell is achieved. The experimental results show that the performance of a-SiGe solar cell with AZO/Ag/NiCr/Al back reflector is best. The initial conversion efficiency is achieved to be 8.05%.     

Band alignment at sputtered ZnSx O1–x/Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 heterojunctions

Valence band offsets ΔE_VBM at ZnS_x O_1–x/Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)₂ (CIGSSe) heterojunctions have been studied by photoemission spectroscopy (XPS, UPS) as a function of composition x in sputtered ZnS_x O_1–x films. In the composition range from ZnO to ZnS we found ΔE_VBM between –(2.1 ± 0.3) eV and –(0.8 ± 0.4) eV, respectively. Considering the optical band gaps, the conduction band offsets ΔE_CBM range from –(0.1 ± 0.3) eV to +(1.4 ± 0.4) eV. These results suggest that sputtered ZnS_x O_1–x is suitable as substitution for the CdS buffer and ZnO window layers in standard chalcopyrite‐based solar cells. Current–voltage characteristics of the solar cells have been investigated as a function of the composition x. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Cu_2O/ZnO氧化物异质结太阳电池的研究进展

介绍了近年来低成本Cu_2O/ZnO氧化物异质结太阳电池方面的研究进展.应用于光伏器件的吸收层材料Cu_2O是直接带隙半导体材料,天然呈现p型;其原材料丰富,且对环境友好.Cu_2O/ZnO异质结太阳电池结构主要有平面结构和纳米线/纳米棒结构.纳米结构的Cu_2O太阳电池提高了器件的电荷收集作用;通过热氧化Cu片技术获得的具有大晶粒尺寸平面结构Cu_2O吸收层在Cu_2O/ZnO太阳电池应用中展现出了高质量特性.界面缓冲层(如i-ZnO,a-ZTO,Ga_2O_3等)和背表面电场(如p~+-Cu_2O层等)可有效地提高界面处能级匹配和增强载流子输运.10 nm厚度的Ga_2O_3提供了近理想的导带失配,减少了界面复合;Ga_2O_3非常适合作为界面层,其能够有效地提高Cu_2O基太阳电池的开路电压V_(oc)(可达到1.2 V)和光电转换效率.p~+-Cu_2O(如Cu_2O:N和Cu_2O:Na)能够减少器件中背接触电阻和形成电子反射的背表面电场(抑制电子在界面处复合).利用p型Na掺杂Cu_2O(Cu_2O:Na)作为吸收层和Zn_(1-x)Ge_x-O作为n型缓冲层,Cu_2O异质结太阳电池(器件结构:MgF_2/ZnO:Al/Zn_(0.38)Ge_(0.62)-O/Cu_2O:Na)光电转换效率达8.1%.氧化物异质结太阳电池在光伏领域展现出极大的发展潜力.     

In_2O_3:Sn中间层改善B掺杂ZnO薄膜的性能及其应用研究

金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)法生长的掺硼氧化锌(BZO)薄膜,具有天然的"类金字塔"绒面结构,作为硅基薄膜太阳电池的前电极具有良好的陷光效果.但直接获得的BZO薄膜表面形貌过于尖锐,影响后续硅基薄膜材料生长质量及太阳电池的光电转换效率.本文设计了以一层超薄In2O3:Sn(ITO)薄膜(～4 nm厚度)作为中间层的多层膜,并通过对顶层BZO薄膜的厚度调制,改善BZO薄膜的表面特性,薄膜结构为:glass/底层BZO/ITO/顶层BZO.合适厚度的顶层BZO薄膜有助于获得类似"菜花状"形貌特征,尖锐的表面趋于"柔和",而较厚的顶层BZO薄膜仍然保持"类金字塔状"结构."柔和"的BZO薄膜表面结构有助于提高后续生长薄膜电池的结晶质量.将获得的新型"三明治"结构多层膜应用于p-i-n型氢化微晶硅(μc-Si:H)薄膜太阳电池,相比传统的BZO薄膜,电池的量子效率QE在500—800 nm波长范围提高了～10%,并且电池的Jsc和Voc均有所提高.     

Stability issues of the next generation solar cells

Polymer, perovskite, and dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are promising technologies for next generation low cost photovoltaic cells. Among these, perovskite solar cells are the newest technology and have the highest efficiency, while DSSCs are closest to commercialization with several companies producing the DSSC materials and modules and existing DSSC installations. However, all three types of solar cells share a concern about lifetime and stability. For each type of devices, there are specific concerns and degradation mechanisms, and all of the devices require encapsulation and exhibit varying degrees of sensitivity to moisture, oxygen, elevated temperature and UV illumination depending on the device structure and materials used. We are discussing the stability and lifetime for each type of cells and future outlook of these technologies. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Novel interconnection scheme for thin‐film silicon solar modules with conductive intermediate reflector

Intermediate reflector layers are commonly used for light man‐agement purposes in multi‐junction silicon based devices containing a‐Si:H top‐ and µc‐Si:H bottom‐sub‐cells. A low resistance of such layers can have a severe impact on the solar module performance due to shunting of the bottom sub‐cell by the P2 scribe. A common solution for this problem is the use of an additional scribe line. However, not only the additional processing step is disadvantageous but also the dead area losses are increased as well by the additional scribe. This work introduces a novel solar cell stripe interconnection scheme that requires only three scribing processes with similar dead area losses as they would be apparent in the standard interconnection scheme. An implementation to mini modules shows no negative impact on the electrical properties and simultaneously reducing the required number of scribing steps. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

新型高效聚合物/富勒烯有机光伏电池研究进展

有机聚合物/富勒烯本体异质结光伏电池以其不断提高的能量转换效率受到了研究人员的广泛关注, 近年来成为光伏电池研究领域的热点之一. 本文主要通过对聚合物/富勒烯太阳能电池的内部机理,包括光吸收、激子扩散和解离以及自由载流子输运和提取等关键科学问题, 从器件材料和结构优化、形貌控制和界面修饰等不同侧面介绍了提高聚合物/富勒烯太阳能电池性能的方法, 讨论了各种器件的结构和能量转换效率, 对于进一步开展这方面的研究工作指明了方向, 最后对其未来的发展前景做出了展望.     

Very thin,highly‐conductive ZnO:Al front electrode on textured glass as substrate for thin‐film silicon solar cells

A very thin (250 nm), highly conductive (annealed), non‐texturized DC‐sputtered aluminum‐doped zinc oxide layer (ZnO:Al) deposited on a textured glass is used as substrate for thin‐film silicon solar cells. Compared to the classical approach, where wet‐chemically texturized ZnO:Al on planar glass is used, this approach allows a reduction in the as‐deposited ZnO:Al thickness of almost 70% while at the same time, thanks to the good light trapping capability of the glass texture the efficiency of the cells was maintained at the high level of 10.9%.

     

Improved performance of a crystalline silicon solar cell based on ZnO/PS anti-reflection coating layers

A porous silicon (PS) layer was prepared by photoelectrochemical etching (PECE), and a zinc oxide (ZnO) film was deposited on a PS layer using a radio frequency (RF) sputtering system. The surface morphology of the PS and ZnO/PS layers was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nano-pores were produced in the PS layer with an average diameter of 5.7 nm, which increased the porosity to 91%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the ZnO/PS layers shows that the ZnO film is highly oriented along the c-axis perpendicular to the PS layer. The average crystallite size of the PS and ZnO/PS layers are 17.06 and 17.94 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of the ZnO/PS layers present three emission peaks, two peaks located at 387.5 and 605 nm due to the ZnO nanocrystalline film and a third located at 637.5 nm due to nanocrystalline PS. Raman measurements of the ZnO/PS layers were performed at room temperature (RT) and indicate that a high-quality ZnO nanocrystalline film was formed. Optical reflectance for all the layers was obtained using an optical reflectometer. The lowest effective reflectance was obtained for the ZnO/PS layers. The fabrication of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells based on the ZnO/PS anti-reflection coating (ARC) layers was performed. The I–V characteristics of the solar cells were studied under 100 mW/cm² illumination conditions. The ZnO/PS layers were found to be an excellent ARC and to exhibit exceptional light-trapping at wavelengths ranging from 400 to 1000 nm, which led to a high efficiency of the c-Si solar cell of 18.15%. The ZnO/PS ARC layers enhance and increase the efficiency of the c-Si solar cell. In this paper, the fabrication processes of the c-Si solar cell with ZnO/PS ARC layers are an attractive and promising technique to produce high-efficiency and low-cost of c-Si solar cells.     

基于聚多巴胺/氧化锌复合阴极缓冲层的倒置聚合物太阳能电池的研究

利用多巴胺氧化自聚合形成聚多巴胺(PDA)与ZnO结合形成PDA/ZnO复合阴极缓冲层,制备了以P3HT:PC_(61)BM为活性层的倒置结构聚合物太阳能电池,通过改变PDA的自聚合时间来分析复合阴极缓冲层对器件性能的影响.实验发现,随着PDA的自聚合时间的增加,聚合物太阳能电池的光电转换效率先增大后减小,当自聚合时间为10 min时,相应器件光伏性能达到最优值,其开路电压V_(OC)为0.66 V,短路电流密度J_(SC)为9.70 mA/cm~2,填充因子FF为68.06%,光电转换效率PCE为4.35%.器件性能改善的原因是由于PDA/ZnO复合阴极缓冲层减小了ZnO与ITO之间的接触电阻,同时PDA中存在大量的氨基有利于倒置太阳能电池阴极对电子的收集.