Ultra-optical characterization of thin film solar cells materials using core/shell absorber layer

<span>This paper investigates on new design of heterojunction quantum dot (HJQD) photovoltaics solar cells CdS/PbS that is based on quantum dot metallics PbS core/shell absorber layer and quantum dot window layer. It has been enhanced the performance of traditional HJQD thin film solar cells model based on quantum dot absorber layer and bulk window layer. The new design has been used sub-micro absorber layer thickness to achieve high efficiency with material reduction, low cost, and time. Metallics-semiconductor core/shell absorber layer has been succeeded for improving the optical characteristics such energy band gap and the absorption of absorber layer materials, also enhancing the performance of HJQD ITO/CdS/QDPbS/Au, sub micro thin film solar cells. Finally, it has been formulating the quantum dot (QD) metallic cores concentration effect on the absorption, energy band gap and electron-hole generation rate in absorber layers, external quantum efficiency, energy conversion efficiency, fill factor of the innovative design of HJQD cells.</span>

Efficiency Enhancement of GaAs Single-Junction Solar Cell by Nanotextured Window Layer

In order to improve efficiency of flexible III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells, it is important to enhance the current density for efficiency improvement and to attain an even efficiency of solar cells on a curved surface. In this study, the nanotextured InAlP window layer of a GaAs single-junction solar cell was employed to suppress reflectance in broad range. The nanotextured surface affects the reflectance suppression with the broad spectrum of wavelength, which causes it to increase the current density and efficiency of the GaAs single-junction solar cell and alleviate the efficiency drop at the high incident angle of the light source. Those results show the potential of the effectively suppressed reflectance of multi-junction solar cells and even performance of solar cells attached on a curved surface.

Using Modified-Intake Plasma-Enhanced Metal–Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition System to Grow Gallium Doped Zinc Oxide

We have used a modified-intake plasma-enhanced metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MIPEMOCVD) system to fabricate gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films with varied Ga content. The MIPEMOCVD system contains a modified intake system of a mixed tank and a spraying terminal to deliver the metal–organic (MO) precursors and a radio-frequency (RF) system parallel to the substrate normal, which can achieve a uniform distribution of organic precursors in the reaction chamber and reduce the bombardment damage. We examined the substitute and interstitial mechanisms of Ga atoms in zinc oxide (ZnO) matrix in MIPEMOCVD-grown GZO thin films through crystalline analyses and Hall measurements. The optimal Ga content of MIPEMOCVD-grown GZO thin film is 3.01 at%, which shows the highest conductivity and transmittance. Finally, the optimal MIPEMOCVD-grown GZO thin film was applied to n-ZnO/p-GaN LED as a window layer. As compared with the indium–tin–oxide (ITO) window layer, the n-ZnO/p-GaN LED with the MIPEMOCVD-grown GZO window layer of the rougher surface and higher transmittance at near UV range exhibits an enhanced light output power owing to the improved light extraction efficiency (LEE).

Simulation and Numerical Modelling of CIGSSe-Based Solar Cells by AFORS-HET

A general equation to determine properties of penternary solar cell based on Cu (In, Ga) (Se, S) 2 (CIGSSe) with a double buffer layer ZnS/Zn0.8Mg0.2O(ZMO) were derived. Numerical analysis of a (CIGSSe) solar cell with a double buffer layer ZnS/ZMO, CdS free absorber layer, were investigated using the AFORS-HET software simulation. Taking into consideration the effect of thickness and doping concentration for the CIGSSe absorption layer, ZnS buffer layer and ZnO:B(BZO) window layer on the electron transport, short circuit current density (Jsc) and open circuit voltage (Voc); numerical simulation demonstrated that the changes in band structure characteristics occurred. The solar energy conversion efficiency is 28.34%, the filling factor is 85.59%, the open circuit voltage is 782.3 mV, the short circuit current is 42.32 mA. then we take the range of the gradient between the ratio of x and y for the absorption layer, and the best result of Voc, Jsc, FF, Eff equal (838.7 mV, 40.94 mA/cm2, 86.23%, 29.61%) respectively at x= 0, y= 0.26.

A Solar-Blind Ultraviolet Photodetector With Graphene/MgZnO/GaN Vertical Structure

Graphene (Gr) has high transmittance to ultraviolet (UV) light and high mobility, which can effectively collect and transfer carriers. In this work, MgZnO (MZO) films were grown on the surface of the p-GaN by magnetron sputtering. A heterojunction solar-blind UV detector with Gr/MZO/GaN structure was constructed by introducing Gr as the window layer film. The test results show that the device has excellent detection ability for solar-blind UV light. The light response cut-off edge of the device is 263 nm, under the illumination of 255 nm and the bias voltage of −5 V, the responsivity is 14.6 mA/W, the rise time is 0.79 s, the decay time is 0.2 s, and the external quantum efficiency is 71.1%. The importance of this work lies in providing a reference for the application of Gr-based photodetectors.

Study on Optical and Electrical Properties of Thermally Evaporated Tin Oxide Thin Films for Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells were fabricated with SnO2 thin films as a window layer and electron transport layer by thermal evaporation. Fundamental characteristics of SnO2 thin films to determine the performance of solar cells were investigated in an optical and electrical manner, varying annealing temperatures. It is found the crystallinity and the presence of localized energy states play a key factor to control the properties of SnO2. In addition, XPS was used to confirm the stoichiometry of the SnO2 thin films, indicating a better charge collection on the annealed SnO2 samples. The SnO2 thin films annealed at 300 °C exhibited desirable optical and electrical properties for the enhanced performance of solar cells. The results show that thermally evaporated SnO2 thin films can be precisely engineered and controlled for mass production and more practical industrialization of perovskite solar cells.

Enhancing the Performance of an Sb2Se3-Based Solar Cell by Dual Buffer Layer

In an Sb2Se3-based solar cell, the buffer layer is sandwiched between the absorber and the window layer, playing an essential role in interfacial electricity. Generally, CdS is used as a buffer layer, but its toxic nature and low bandgap can cause current loss because of parasitic absorption. In this work, we optimized the buffer layer by using ZnS as an alternative to the CdS buffer layer in order to decrease the use of CdS. The effect of different buffer layers on the solar device was explored by numerical simulation with the help of SCAPS 1D software. The basic parameters, such as open-circuit voltage (Voc), current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (η) were analyzed and compared for both the buffer layers (CdS/ZnS). The results demonstrate that changing buffer materials and thicknesses has a significant impact on cell performance. The efficiency for the ZnS buffer layer was lower compared to that of the CdS-based solar cells because of insufficient energy band alignment. In order to enhance the efficiency of Sb2Se3-based solar cells, we used CdS/ZnS dual buffer layers and studied the device performance. The work function of the back contact also affects the device performance, and for work functions below 4.8 eV, the device’s efficiency was very low. The effect of varying the thicknesses and temperatures of the buffer layers on the I-V/C-V characteristics, quantum efficiency, and energy band structure are also reported. This study shall guide the researcher in reducing CdS and improving the device’s performance.

The Effects of Dopant Concentration on the Performances of the a-SiOx:H(p)/a-Si:H(i1)/a-Si:H(i2)/µc-Si:H(n) Heterojunction Solar Cell

In this work, the imbalances in band gap energy between p-window layer and intrinsic layer (p/i interface) in p-i-n type solar cells to suppress charge recombination adopting with the addition of buffer layer, at p/i interface, namely solar cell structures without buffer (Cell A) and with buffer (Cell B). Using well-practiced AFORS-HET software, performances of Cell A and Cell B structures are evaluated and compared to experimental data. A good agreement between AFORS-HET modelling and experimental data was obtained for Cell A (error = 1.02%) and Cell B (error = 0.07%), respectively. The effects of dopant concentrations of the p-type and n-type were examined with respect to cell B for better performance by analysing the energy band diagram, the electric field distribution, the trapped hole density, the light J-V characteristics, and the external quantum efficiency. The simulated results of an optimised Cell B showed that the highest efficiency of 8.81% (VOC = 1042 mV, JSC = 10.08 mA/cm2, FF = 83.85%) has been obtained for the optimum dopant values of NA = 1.0 x 1019 cm-3 and ND = 1.0 x 1019 cm-3, respectively. A comparison between experimental data and simulation results for Cell B showed that the conversion efficiency can be enhanced from 5.61% to 8.81%, using the optimized values