solar cells tagged posts

Common Glass used to Optimize Graphene’s Electronic Properties

Left: This is a schematic of a graphene field-effect-transistor used in this study. The device consists of a solar cell containing graphene stacked on top of a high-performance copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) semiconductor, which in turn is stacked on an industrial substrate (either soda-lime glass, SLG, or sodium-free borosilicate glass, BSG). The research revealed that the SLG substrate serves as a source of sodium doping, and improved device performance in a way not seen in the sodium-free substrate. Right: A scanning electron micrograph of the device as seen from above, with the white scale bar measuring 10 microns, and a transmission electron micrograph inset of the CIGS/graphene interface where the white scale bar measures 100 nanometers. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory

Left: This is a schematic of a graphene field-effect-transistor used in this study. The device consists of a solar cell containing graphene stacked on top of a high-performance copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) semiconductor, which in turn is stacked on an industrial substrate (either soda-lime glass, SLG, or sodium-free borosilicate glass, BSG). The research revealed that the SLG substrate serves as a source of sodium doping, and improved device performance in a way not seen in the sodium-free substrate. Right: A scanning electron micrograph of the device as seen from above, with the white scale bar measuring 10 microns, and a transmission electron micrograph inset of the CIGS/graphene interface where the white scale bar measures 100 nanometers...

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New Transparent & Electrically Conductive material could make Displays, Solar cells more Affordable and Efficient

A figure showing the crystal structure of strontium vanadate(orange) and calcium vanadate (blue). The red dots are oxygen atoms arranged in 8 octohedra surrounding a single strontium or calcium atom. Vanadium atoms can be seen inside each octahedron. Credit: Lei Zhang/Penn State

A figure showing the crystal structure of strontium vanadate(orange) and calcium vanadate (blue). The red dots are oxygen atoms arranged in 8 octohedra surrounding a single strontium or calcium atom. Vanadium atoms can be seen inside each octahedron. Credit: Lei Zhang/Penn State

Indium tin oxide (ITO), the transparent conductor that is now used for more than 90% of the display market, has been the dominant material for the past 60 years. But in the last decade, the price of indium has increased dramatically. Displays and touchscreen modules have become a main cost driver in mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, making up close to 40% of the cost...

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New strategy for generating more Efficient Solar Cells

 

A typical solar cell, at max, converts <33% of light into electricity, so researchers have been working to find ways to surpass this limit. In the past, scientists have put an extra photon upconversion filter before or after the cell to catch the low energy, unused light and convert it into usable, high-energy light. But, FSU Assistant Prof Hanson wanted to integrate this process directly into the cell.

The researchers did this by using self-assembly. Through a soaking procedure, they assembled 2 molecules, an acceptor and sensitizer, on a surface which work in concert to perform photon upconverion, ie via triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) combining 2 low energy, green photons to generate a higher energy, blue photon, which can then be used to generate electricity...

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Solar Cells: High-quality Perovskite materials developed capable of utilizing Long-Wavelength Sunlight

A high-quality mixed-organic-cation perovskite (MA)x(FA)1−xPbI3 is prepared from a phase-pure non-stoichiometric intermediate complex (FAI)1−x−PbI2. The phase-pure (FAI)1−x−PbI2 probably facilitates homogenous nucleation and modulates the growth kinetics during the crystallization of (MA)x(FA)1−xPbI3. This strategy can be expected to pave the way for the development of mixed-organic-cation perovskite solar cells.

A high-quality mixed-organic-cation perovskite (MA)x(FA)1−xPbI3 is prepared from a phase-pure non-stoichiometric intermediate complex (FAI)1−x−PbI2. The phase-pure (FAI)1−x−PbI2 probably facilitates homogenous nucleation and modulates the growth kinetics during the crystallization of (MA)x(FA)1−xPbI3. This strategy can be expected to pave the way for the development of mixed-organic-cation perovskite solar cells.

NIMS researchers have developed the world’s first method to fabricate high-quality perovskite materials capable of utilizing long-wavelength sunlight of 800 nm or longer...

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