Nanotextured multicrystalline Al‐BSF solar cells reaching 18% conversion efficiency using industrially viable solar cell processes

We report recent achievements in adapting industrially used solar cell processes on nanotextured surfaces. Nanostructures were etched into c‐Si surfaces by dry exothermic plasma‐less reaction of F species with Si in atmospheric pressure conditions and then modified using a short post‐etching process. Nanotextured multicrystalline wafers are used to prepare Al‐BSF solar cells using industrially feasible solar cell proc‐ essing steps. In comparison to the reference acidic textured solar cells, the nanostructured cells showed gain in short circuit current (J_sc) of up to 0.8 mA/cm² and absolute gain in conversion efficiency of up to 0.3%. The best nanotextured solar cell was independently certified to reach the conversion efficiency of 18.0%. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

21.2%‐efficient fineline‐printed PERC solar cell with 5 busbar front grid

We evaluate industrial‐type PERC solar cells applying a 5 busbar front grid and fineline‐printed Ag fingers. We obtain finger widths down to 46 µm when using a stencil with 40 µm opening for the finger print, whereas the busbar is printed in a separate printing step with a different Ag paste (dual print). This compares to finger widths of 62 µm to 66 µm when applying print‐on‐print. The 5 busbar front grid with the best dual print process reduces the shadowing loss of the front grid to 4.0% compared to 5.8% for a conventional 3 busbar front grid printed with print‐on‐print. The 1.8% reduction in shadowing loss results in equal parts from the reduced finger width with dual print as well as from a reduced total busbar width of the 5 busbar design. The resulting PERC solar cells with 5 busbars demonstrate independently confirmed conversion efficiencies of 21.2% compared to 20.6% efficiency of the 3 busbar PERC solar cell. The increased conversion efficiency is primarily due to an increased short‐circuit current resulting from the reduced shadowing loss. To our knowledge, 21.2% conversion efficiency is the highest value reported so far for industry typical silicon solar cells with printed metal front and rear contacts. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modulation of light absorption by optical spacer in perovskite solar cells

Lead halide perovskite solar cells with planar heterojunction configuration have recently attracted tremendous attention because of their excellent power conversion efficiencies. The modulation of optical absorption by using an optical spacer layer is a unique method to enhance the device efficiency. Here, we demonstrate the application of thin ZnO layer that act as an optical spacer that enhance the power conversion efficiency perovskite devices from 8.92% to 10.7%, which is mainly due to increment in short‐circuit current density by 16% compared to the reference solar cell. The simulation data revealed that ZnO acts as an optical spacer layer that shifts length (average) of electric field |E|² distribution from 500 nm to 750 nm wavelength is 25 nm in the perovskite layer. Which represents that exciton generation region is moved to near the hole transport layer that enhances the exciton dissociation efficiency and device efficiency.     

Spectral-splitting concentrator photovoltaic modules based on AlGaAs/GaAs/GaSb and GaInP/InGaAs(P) solar cells

A concentrator photovoltaic module with sunlight spectral splitting by Fresnel lens and dichroic filters is developed. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of such a module is estimated at a level of 49.4% when three single-junction cells are used and may reach 48.5–50.6% when a tandem two-junction cell is combined with narrow-band cells. Single-junction AlGaAs, GaAs, GaSb, and InGa(P)As solar sells are fabricated by zinc diffusion from the vapor phase into an n-type epitaxial layer. GaInP/GaAs cascade solar cells are prepared by MOS hydride epitaxy. The overall efficiency of the three single-junction solar cells developed for the spectral-splitting module is 38.1% (AM1.5D) at concentration ratio K _c = 200x. The combination of the solar cells with the cascade structure demonstrates an efficiency of 37.9% at concentrations of 400–800 suns. The parameters of the spectral-splitting photovoltaic module are measured. The photovoltaic efficiency of this module reaches 24.7% in the case of three single-junction cells and 27.9% when the two-junction and single-junction cells are combined.     

p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with a CdSeS Quantum‐Dot‐Sensitized NiO Photocathode for Outstanding Short‐Circuit Current

CdSeS quantum dots (QDs) are firstly introduced into a NiO photocathode for photocathodic dye‐sensitized solar cells (p‐DSCs). The optimized sample exhibits a short‐circuit density (14.68 mA cm^?2) and power conversion efficiency (1.02%) that are almost one order of magnitude higher than the reported value of p‐QDSCs. Steady‐state photoluminescence and time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements indicate that the photoexcited holes can be almost completely injected from CdSeS QDs into the valence band of NiO. At the same time, it can be observed from electrochemical impedance spectra measurements.     

混合溶剂对P3HT:PCBM基太阳能电池的影响

以poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT)为电子给体材料,[6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)为电子受体材料,制备了纯氯苯(CB)溶剂、纯氯仿(CF)溶剂和氯苯/氯仿(CB/CF)不同比例混合溶剂的共混体系太阳能电池.研究了不同溶剂及不同比例混合的混合溶剂对电池性能的影响.结果表明:以CB/CF(3/1)为溶剂制备的器件,紫外可见吸收光谱和器件外量子效率曲线显示出红移现象,原子力显微图表明P3HT和PCBM间形成良好的相分离结构.在100 mW/cm2强度光照射下,其开路电压Voc为0.61 V短路电流密度Jsc为9mA/cm2,填充因子FF为57.9％,能量转换效率PCE为3.2％.     

Improved performance of silicon‐nanoparticle film‐coated dye‐sensitized solar cells

Silicon (Si) nanoparticles with average size of 13 nm and orange–red luminescence under UV absorption were synthesized using electrochemical etching of silicon wafers. A film of Si nanoparticles with thickness of 0.75 µm to 2.6 µm was coated on the glass (TiO₂ side) of a dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The cell exhibited nearly 9% enhancement in power conversion efficiency (η) at film thickness of ～2.4 µm under solar irradiation of 100 mW/cm² (AM 1.5) with improved fill factor and short‐circuit current density. This study revealed for the first time that the Si‐nanoparticle film converting UV into visible light and helping in homogeneous irradiation, can be utilized for improving the efficiency of the DSSCs. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

19.4%‐efficient large‐area fully screen‐printed silicon solar cells

We demonstrate industrially feasible large‐area solar cells with passivated homogeneous emitter and rear achieving energy conversion efficiencies of up to 19.4% on 125 × 125 mm² p‐type 2–3 Ω cm boron‐doped Czochralski silicon wafers. Front and rear metal contacts are fabricated by screen‐printing of silver and aluminum paste and firing in a conventional belt furnace. We implement two different dielectric rear surface passivation stacks: (i) a thermally grown silicon dioxide/silicon nitride stack and (ii) an atomic‐layer‐deposited aluminum oxide/silicon nitride stack. The dielectrics at the rear result in a decreased surface recombination velocity of S_rear = 70 cm/s and 80 cm/s, and an increased internal IR reflectance of up to 91% corresponding to an improved J_sc of up to 38.9 mA/cm² and V_oc of up to 664 mV. We observe an increase in cell efficiency of 0.8% absolute for the cells compared to 18.6% efficient reference solar cells featuring a full‐area aluminum back surface field. To our knowledge, the energy conversion efficiency of 19.4% is the best value reported so far for large area screen‐printed solar cells. (© 2011 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)     

Hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes and perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes

Hybrid solar cells have been fabricated using perylene monoimide–monoanhydride dyes with nanorod zinc oxide electrodes as electron transporting layers. We have investigated the influence of the spacer alkyl chain length of perylene monoimide–monoanhydride (PMIMA) dyes on the device performance in hybrid solar cells using nanorod zinc oxide electrodes. Nanorod zinc oxide electrodes with 50–150 nm of diameter were synthesized in the presence of PEG400 by using microwave heating method. We observed that the dyes with longer and brunched alkyl chains exhibit higher efficiencies in hybrid solar cells. We report the highest efficiency obtained with zinc oxide nanorods under standard conditions for perylene monoimide–monoanhydride derivative with PMIMA_1 that performs 400 mV open circuit voltage, 2.81 mA/cm² short-circuit current and 0.59% overall conversion efficiency.     

Proposition of an Environment Friendly Triple Junction Solar Cell Based on Earth Abundant CBTSSe/CZTS/ACZTSe Materials

We propose a triple junction CBTSSe/CZTS/ACZTSe solar cell using earth abundant and non‐toxic CBTSSe, CZTS, and ACZTSe as the primary absorbing layers for top, middle, and bottom cells, respectively. Using rigorous optoelectronic simulation, we analyze the performance of the proposed cell and vary absorber thicknesses in order to maximize its efficiency. The maximum obtainable efficiency is calculated to be 36.04% with 2.73 V open circuit voltage, 17.88 mA cm^?2 short circuit current density, and 73.7% fill factor including Shockley–Read–Hall, surface and radiative recombination mechanisms. The maximum achievable efficiency can be obtained from an optimized device structure with 250, 300, and 1000 nm thicknesses of CBTSSe, CZTS, and ACZTSe, respectively. The design and analyses presented in this work would help in achieving highly efficient eco‐friendly inorganic solar cells.     

Hybrid polymer/inorganic nanoparticle blended ternary solar cells

Hybrid polymer/inorganic nanoparticle blended ternary solar cells are reported. These solar cells have an active layer consisting of PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs), poly (3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Power conversion efficiency (PCE) was improved by incorporating PbS CQDs in the active layer of P3HT:PCBM‐based organic solar cells. As the concentration of PbS CQDs in the hybrid solar cells was increased, PCE was also increased. This improvement resulted from improved charge transfer and also extended light absorption into the near‐infrared. The PCE of the hybrid solar cells was 47% higher than that for reference organic solar cells on average under air mass 1.5 global illumination. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Compositional investigation of potassium doped Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells with efficiencies up to 20.8%

We report on the interaction between intentional potassium doping of thin film Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells, CIGS absorber composition, and device efficiency. Up to now high efficiency CIGS solar cells could not be produced with a gallium/(gallium + indium) ratio higher than 35%. The new doping process step does not only increase solar cell conversion efficiencies up to 20.8%, but also allows a shift in the CIGS absorber composition towards higher gallium content whilst maintaining this high efficiencies level. We find that the saturation of the open circuit voltages for higher gallium content that is normally observed can partially be overcome by the new doping procedure. This observation leads us to the conclusion that even on this high performance level CIGS solar cells still hold a potential for further development beyond the record values reported here. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Highly efficient ARC less InGaP/GaAs DJ solar cell numerical modeling using optimized InAlGaP BSF layers

An effective BSF is a key structural element for an efficient solar cell, either in a multi-junction or in a single-junction device. In this paper, two important materials AlGaAs and InAlGaP with their varied thickness (i.e. 0.05–1.0)?μm both for top BSF and bottom BSF cells are investigated using the computational numerical modeling TCAD tool Silvaco ATLAS. It has been found that under the current matching condition with the relatively thinner (30?nm) top BSF layer and the thicker (1,000?nm) bottom BSF layer, the cell exhibit an overall enhancement of short-circuit current density J_sc and open circuit voltage Voc thereby improving the overall efficiency of the cell. A wide band gap material In_0.5(Al_0.7 Ga_0.3)_0.5P is proved to be a better choice for both window and BSF layer by increasing 6.2% more efficiency than using other widely used Al_0.7 Ga_0.3 As material under the same cell configuration because of its high photo generation rate. For this optimized cell structure, the maximum J_sc = 16.10?mA/cm², V_oc =?2.392V, and fill factor = 87.52% are obtained under AM1.5G illumination, exhibiting a maximum conversion efficiency of 32.1964% (1 sun) and 36.6781% (1,000 suns). This work reports the Influence of different BSF material and structures on the characteristics and efficiency of Multi-Junction solar cells. The detail photo-generation rates and EQE in this optimized ARC less DJ solar cell structure are also observed. The major stages of the modeling are explained and the simulation results are validated with published experimental data to demonstrate the accuracy of our results produced by the model utilizing this technique.     

cis‐substituted tetraethynylporphyrin derivatives for small molecule organic solar cells

A 5,10‐Bis(phenylethynyl)‐15,20‐bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)porphyrin (cis‐TIPSTEP) was synthesized by using phenylethynyl dipyrromethane and triisopropylsilylpropynal through scrambling of the ethynyl substituents. X‐ray crystallographic structures of cis‐TIPSTEP, 5‐phenylethynyl‐10,15,20‐tris(triisopropylsilylethynyl)porphyrin, and 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)porphyrin were determined in order to study the packing structure; cis‐TIPSTEP exhibited good π‐overlap and parallel π‐stacking structures. 5,10‐Bis(phenylethynyl)‐15,20‐bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)porphyrinato magnesium (II) (Mg‐cis‐TIPSTEP) was synthesized for the use in small molecule organic solar cells, which gave power conversion efficiency of 1.5% with short‐circuit current density of 4.5 mA/cm², open‐circuit voltage of 0.83 V, and fill factor of 0.39. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells by cooperative LSPR of gold-silver dual nanoparticles

Enhancing optical and electrical performances is effective in improving power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Here, gold and silver dual nanoparticles were imported and embedded in the hole transport layer of perovskite solar cells. Due to the cooperative localized surface plasmon resonance of these two kinds of metal nanostructures, light harvest of perovskite material layer and the electrical performance of device were improved, which finally upgraded short circuit current density by 10.0%, and helped to increase power conversion efficiency from 10.4% to 11.6% under AM 1.5G illumination with intensity of 100 m W/cm~2. In addition, we explored the influence of silver and gold nanoparticles on charge carrier generation, dissociation, recombination, and transportation inside perovskite solar cells.     

Thin Film Solar Cell Based on ZnSnN2/SnO Heterojunction

In this article, we report the growth of zinc‐tin nitride (ZnSnN₂) thin films as a potential absorber for photovoltaic applications by fabricating a heterojunction of n‐ZnSnN₂/p‐SnO. The performance of the heterojunction has been monitored through selective deposition of top electrode with different materials (Ni/Au or Al). The electron‐transfer process from the ZnSnN₂ layer to the cathode is facilitated by selecting metal electrode with relatively low work function, which also boosts up the electron injection or/and extraction. The diode exhibits a good J–V response in the dark with a rectification ratio of 3 × 10³ at 1.0 V and an ideality factor of 4.2 in particular with Al as the top electrode. Under illumination, the heterostructure solar cell demonstrates a power conversion efficiency of ≈0.37% with an open circuit voltage of 0.25 V and a short circuit current density of 4.16 mA cm^?2. The prime strategies, on how to improve solar cell efficiency concerning band offsets and band alignment engineering are also discussed.     

Contact passivation in silicon solar cells using atomic‐layer‐deposited aluminum oxide layers

Atomic‐layer‐deposited aluminum oxide (AlO_x) layers are implemented between the phosphorous‐diffused n⁺‐emitter and the Al contact of passivated emitter and rear silicon solar cells. The increase in open‐circuit voltage V_oc of 12 mV for solar cells with the Al/AlO_x/n⁺‐Si tunnel contact compared to contacts without AlO_x layer indicates contact passivation by the implemented AlO_x. For the optimal AlO_x layer thickness of 0.24 nm we achieve an independently confirmed energy conversion efficiency of 21.7% and a V_oc of 673 mV. For AlO_x thicknesses larger than 0.24 nm the tunnel probability decreases, resulting in a larger series resistance. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

单室沉积高效非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池的研究

采用甚高频等离子体增强化学气相沉积技术,在前期单室沉积的微晶硅薄膜太阳电池和非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池研究的基础上,通过对微晶硅底电池本征层硅烷浓度的优化,获得了初始效率达到11.02%(电池面积1.0 cm²)的非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池.同时,100 cm²的非晶硅/微晶硅叠层太阳电池的组件效率也达到了9.04%. 关键词： 非晶硅/微晶硅叠层电池 单室 甚高频     

Efficient nanocoax‐based solar cells

The power conversion efficiency of most thin film solar cells is compromised by competing optical and electronic constraints, wherein a cell must be thick enough to collect light yet thin enough to efficiently extract current. Here, we introduce a nanoscale solar architecture inspired by a well‐known radio technology concept, the coaxial cable, that naturally resolves this “thick–thin” conundrum. Optically thick and elec‐ tronically thin amorphous silicon “nanocoax” cells are in the range of 8% efficiency, higher than any nanostructured thin film solar cell to date. Moreover, the thin nature of the cells reduces the Staebler–Wronski light‐induced degradation effect, a major problem with conventional solar cells of this type. This nanocoax represents a new platform for low cost, high efficiency solar power. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)