Flexible Solar Cells
Abstract
With the decline in the world's natural resources, the need for new and cheaper energy sources is evolving. One such source is the sun which generates heat and light which can be harnessed and used to our advantage.
This reference book introduces the topic of photovoltaics in the form of flexible solar cells. There are explanations of the principles behind this technology, the engineering required to produce these products and the future possibilities offered by this technology. The chemistry and physics of the cells (both organic and inorganic) are clarified as well as production methods, with information how this can then be applied to the nanoscale as well. A complete guide to this new and exciting way of producing energy which will be invaluable to a variety of people from material scientists, chemists, electrical engineers, to management consultants and politicians.
... Organic solar cell provides several advantages compared to the inorganic solar cell. The OSC provides services with lower cost, easy processing ability, potentially unbreakable or flexibility, and adequately large and friendly environment [3][4][5][6]. In addition, OSCs have been applied in a lot of sectors, including residential home systems or commercial building systems, water pumping, telecommunication, automobiles, space power supply, photovoltaic power plants, public system power supply, military, and other digital consumption [3,5]. ...
... The OSC provides services with lower cost, easy processing ability, potentially unbreakable or flexibility, and adequately large and friendly environment [3][4][5][6]. In addition, OSCs have been applied in a lot of sectors, including residential home systems or commercial building systems, water pumping, telecommunication, automobiles, space power supply, photovoltaic power plants, public system power supply, military, and other digital consumption [3,5]. However, OSCs have not still achieved commercial success of photovoltaic devices due to the low-power conversion efficiency and durability of OSCs. ...
In this study, we designed a highly efficient ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Al-based bulk heterojunction organic solar cell. We investigated the performance of various optical and electrical properties of the designed organic solar cells. We improved the power conversion efficiency by using appropriate materials in different layers of the organic solar cells and refractive index and lattice constant matching among the layers. GPVDM simulator was used for simulating various properties of the organic solar cells, such as current density, voltage density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency. Various parameters of the active layer of the organic solar cells were varied for optimization. In addition, we analyzed the impact of the thickness of the active layer and device series resistance on the improvement of the power conversion efficiency of the organic solar cells. Maximum power conversion efficiency of 16.46% with a fill factor of 74.09% was obtained for a series resistance of 15 ohms. We observed an inversely proportional relationship between power conversion efficiency and series resistance. We optimized the value of the thickness of the active layer as 75 nm while designing the organic solar cells to achieve maximum power conversion efficiency. We strongly believe that the proposed organic solar cell model will play a significant role in achieving high PCE organic solar cells.
... Installed power Margin + Ps = (PI) (13) Margins (roughness, fouling, weather) 15 -20% depend ship route. Solar cells or photovoltaic (PV), is a technology system that converts sunlight into electrical energy through solar panels stored in batteries, [9]. The formulations used is: The concept of a solar vessel converted sun energy into the driving force required by vessels through solar panels, batteries, electro motors, transmissions and propellers at a certain speed. ...
... By using Equation (9), it can be determined that the magnitude of a thrust deduction factors (t) is 0.038, hence the thrust of ship (T) is 6.685 kN, whilst the ship resistance is 6.138 kN. It means that as the thrust is greater than ship resistance thus the boat will move, sea also Equation (1). ...
... In contrast, the CZTSe material consists of abundant and nontoxic components, which makes it possible to reduce the recoupment period and to solve the problem of the recycling of used solar cells based on these components [4]. The idea of producing thin-film solar cells on flexible metal substrates has attracted more and more attention in recent years [9][10][11]. The advantages of light, flexible, and reliable (unbreakable) solar modules are obvious, especially for such fields of application as satellites, aviation, automotive equipment, and textile goods [10][11][12][13]. ...
... The idea of producing thin-film solar cells on flexible metal substrates has attracted more and more attention in recent years [9][10][11]. The advantages of light, flexible, and reliable (unbreakable) solar modules are obvious, especially for such fields of application as satellites, aviation, automotive equipment, and textile goods [10][11][12][13]. The possibility of using the rollto-roll technology is as a rule the main argument in organizing the profit-making production of solar cells. ...
Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin films are produced by selenizing electrochemically layer-by-layer deposited and preliminarily annealed Cu–Zn–Sn precursors. For flexible metal substrates, Mo and Ta foils are used. The morphology, elemental and phase compositions, and crystal structure of Cu2ZnSnSe4 films are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectral microanalysis, X-ray phase analysis, and Raman spectroscopy.
... Flexible substrates for traditional PV have received much attention in the past and are well covered by the scientific literature (Green 2007, Pagliaro et al 2008. The applicability of flexible substrates have been well demonstrated for thin film and silicon photovoltaics technologies, which are based on physical deposition principles and semiconductor technology. ...
... Typical substrate materials used for PV include among others glass sheets, polymer films (Kapton ® , polyimide), PDMS, and metal foils (Padinger et al 2003, Fan and Javey 2008, Fan et al 2009, Znajdek et al 2016, DuPont 2017. Flexible substrates for PV are also subject to different requirements such as (Pagliaro et al 2008) • high electrical insulating properties; ...
In this paper, a review of applying dye-sensitized (DSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) on flexible substrates is presented. Metallic and polymeric materials are the most common flexible substrates used. Cell integration into a textile substrate is also considered here as a future alternative. Common challenges with these include penetration of humidity, cell stability, and lifetime. Flexible DSCs and PSCs are still a niche technology, but have an inherent potential for cheap roll-to-roll mass production of photovoltaics.
... Идея изготовления тонкопленочных солнечных элементов на основе гибких металлических подложек привлекает все большее внимание в течение последних лет [9][10][11]. Преимущества легких, гибких и надежных (небьющихся) солнечных модулей очевидны, особенно в отношении областей их применения, таких как спутники, авиация, автомобильное применение, текстильные изделия [10][11][12][13]. ...
... Идея изготовления тонкопленочных солнечных элементов на основе гибких металлических подложек привлекает все большее внимание в течение последних лет [9][10][11]. Преимущества легких, гибких и надежных (небьющихся) солнечных модулей очевидны, особенно в отношении областей их применения, таких как спутники, авиация, автомобильное применение, текстильные изделия [10][11][12][13]. Возможность использования рулонной технологии, как правило, является основным аргументом при создании рентабельного производства солнечных элементов. ...
Cu_2ZnSnSe_4 thin films are produced by selenizing electrochemically layer-by-layer deposited and preliminarily annealed Cu–Zn–Sn precursors. For flexible metal substrates, Mo and Ta foils are used. The morphology, elemental and phase compositions, and crystal structure of Cu_2ZnSnSe_4 films are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectral microanalysis, X-ray phase analysis, and Raman spectroscopy.
... Solar is the most utilized of the "green" energy sources today. However, it has stalled with regard to market penetration [3]. Given that the total solar energy adsorbed by the Earth is ca. 1 × 10 22 J per day, which is enough to meet the world's energy needs for a year, sunlight is not a limitation of adoption [4]. ...
... The thickness of the active layer in a thin film cell made of inorganic compounds usually does not exceed 20 . The consumption of semiconductor raw material is consequently limited [134], the potential flexibility of the cell is also ensured. It is also important that such an active layer has a high absorption coefficient value, as this affects the efficiency of light energy conversion to electricity. ...
https://pre-epodreczniki.open.agh.edu.pl/openagh-podreczniki_view.php?categId=143&handbookId=129
... Therefore, research has risen during the previous decades so that the world does not retain its oil dependence, and finds the most efficient and economical PV applications. Sun cells must absorb a range of energy which is efficient according to the solar spectrum [1]. ...
... Grubość warstwy aktywnej w ogniwie cienkowarstwowym wykonanym ze związków nieorganicznych zwykle nie przekracza 20 . Zużycie surowca półprzewodnikowego jest więc niewielkie [ 134], potencjalna elastyczność ogniwa także jest zapewniona. Istotne jest także, aby taka warstwa aktywna miała wysoką wartość współczynnika absorpcji, ponieważ wpływa to na efektywność konwersji energii świetlnej na elektryczną. ...
... Figure 3a shows that enhancement of the IPCE in a broad wavelength range from 400 to 900 nm with DIO corresponded well with the conversion efficiency increase of 25% estimated under AM 1.5G solar illumination. Enhancing light absorption, improving charge and exciton dissociation are three well-known origins for improving the IPCE [35]. We can see that DIO improves IPCE over the measured wavelength while it only affects the absorption spectra (Fig. 3b). ...
Electric-field-induced optical second harmonic generation (EFISHG) measurement was conducted to investigate the effect of 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) additive, which is relevant to improve the efficiency of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, on carrier behaviors in the BHJ layer, where the BHJ layer is a blend of [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) and regioregular poly [2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-Ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopentane [2,1-b;3,4-b′] dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT). Using the laser wavelength of 1000 nm, we could selectively observe the electric field in the PCPDTBT phase of BHJ layer, which allowed us to determine the difference in charge accumulation at the interface with and without DIO. With adding DIO, a decrease in interfacial stored charge was observed, and this plays a role in improving the efficiency by about 25%. The DIO modified the internal field distribution so that the electric field promotes the electrons toward the ITO electrode and holes toward the PEDOT:PSS/Au electrode.
... This emerging technology has promising applications in powering some electronic devices such as Organic Light Emitting Devices (OLEDs), E-textiles and paper-like displays [1][2][3]. Stretchable organic solar cells are very interesting because of their stretchability, light weight, low cost and easy fabrication [2,4]. The structures of stretchable organic solar cells are made up of organic materials, which are polymers that are stretchable and bendable. ...
In this paper, we present the results of a combined theoretical, computational and experimental study of failure mechanisms in model multilayers that are relevant to stretchable organic solar cells. The deformation of these structures is elucidated under monotonic loading that simulates possible stretching phenomena. The stress distributions within the layers and the possible interfacial crack driving forces are computed for model layered structures with well controlled thicknesses and elastic properties. The implications of the results are discussed for the improved design of stretchable organic solar cells with reliable optical properties.
... Selain itu diharapkan energi matahari dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber energi listrik yang ramah lingkungan, sehingga apabila energi ini dapat dikelola dengan baik, diharapkan kebutuhan masyarakat akan energi dapat terpenuhi. Banyak sekali perusahaan start up fotovoltik yang menarik investasi dari para kapitalis dan bahkan perusahaan minyak [1]. ...
Permasalahan utama dari solar cell adalah perbedaan jenis solar cell yang mengakibatkan perbedaan kinerja pada solar cell tersebut. Besarnya daya keluaran yang dihasilkan relatif tidak konstan karena dipengaruhi oleh besarnya intensitas matahari serta suhu lingkungan di sekitarnya. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut maka penelitian ini dirancang untuk melakukan perbandingan panel surya monocrystalline jenis vertikal dan jenis fleksibel.Dari hasil pengujian dan analisa dengan simulasi pencahayaan matahari langsung menggunakan sistem pendingin panel surya fleksibel menghasilkan efisiensi lebih baik dibanding panel surya vertikal, yaitu 20.40%, sedangkan panel surya vertikal menggunakan heatsink, yaitu 16.75%. Dari hasil pengujian dan analisa dengan simulasi pencahayaan lampu menggunakan sistem pendingin heatsink panel surya vertikal menghasilkan efisiensi lebih baik dibandingkan dengan panel surya vertikal, yaitu 17.39%, sedangkan panel surya fleksibel menggunakan heatsink sebesar 15.30%. Dari hasil pengujian dan Analisa dengan simulasi pencahayaan matahari langsung dengan system tanpa pendingin heatsink telah didapatkan hasil Analisa atau percobaan bahwa panel surya fleksibel menghasilkan efisiensi yang lebih baik dibandingkan panel surya vertikal, yaitu 19.39%, sedangkan panel surya vertikal mempunyai efisiensi 18.55%. dari hasil percobaan dan Analisa dengan simulasi pencahayaan lampu tanpa menggunakan system pendingin heatsink dari hasil percobaan dan Analisa telah didapatkan bahwa panel surya vertikal menghasilkan efisiensi yang lebih baik dari pada panel surya fleksibel, yaitu 18.50%, sedangkan panel surya fleksibel menghasilkan efisiensi sebesar 17.37%.
... TPT is composed of two layers of polyvinyl fluoride (Tedlar) laminated to a single layer of PET. TPT is engineered for use in photovoltaic backsheet application as shown in figure (2)[7][8][9][10]. ...
In this work, we study the effect of thickness and bending angle of Al-Electrode thin films deposited on Flex and Tedlar (TPT) substrate related to electrical resistance measurements (Ohm), the thickness of Aluminum thin films 150nm, 200nm and 400nm. The bending angle used between 0-180 degree and the thickness of Flex and Tedlar polymer were 0.3 mm. The result showed the electrical resistance decrease with increase of Aluminum thin film thickness on polymer and no effect of bending angle. The Tedlar (TPT) substrate more efficient from flex substrate and useful for flexible solar cell manufacturing.
... Recently, semiconductor thin films obtained on flexible metal substrates have been of great interest for use in solar cells (Salavei et al., 2016;Chantana et al., 2018;Sim et al., 2018;Zhao et al., 2018;Yan et al., 2019). The flexible metal substrates offer several advantages over heavy breakable glass substrates, which require additional care and significant support in the manufacture and installation of solar cells based on them (Bojic et al., 2016;Kessler et al., 2005;Otte et al., 2006;Pagliaro et al., 2008). Flexible metal substrates make it possible also to apply solar cells to bendable surfaces, use them in Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) and mobile applications, where weight is important etc. ...
The temperature dependence (in range from 24 to 290 K) of Raman spectroscopy of the Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) films with Zn-rich (series A) and Zn-poor (series B) composition obtained on a Ta foil is investigated. Analisys and approximation by the Lorentz function of the CZTSe Raman spectra suggests that the CZTSe most intense Raman peak consists of two modes (at 192/189 and 194/195 cm⁻¹), which are slightly shifted from each other. In addition, the Raman peaks around 192 and 189 cm⁻¹ lead to asymmetric broadening of dominant peaks at 194 and 195 cm⁻¹ in Raman spectra of the CZTSe films series A and B, respectively. In the case of the Sn-rich CZTSe films, we attribute of Raman peak around 189 cm⁻¹ to SnSe2 compound. However in the case of the Sn-poor CZTSe films, the observable shift is too high to assign confidently the 192 cm⁻¹ band to a SnSe2 compound, which was not detected by XRD analysis. We suppose that this mode is attributed to disordered kesterite structure. The temperature dependence Raman spectra for both series of the CZTSe films shows that a change temperature from 290 to 24 K leads to position shift and narrowing of the CZTSe Raman A-modes. The calculated temperature coefficients and anharmonic constants in Klemens model approximations for temperature dependence of shift position and FWHM of the CZTSe A-modes shown that four-phonon process has dominant contribution in damping process and as a consequence in Raman spectrum changes for two series of the CZTSe films.
... Modules can be flexible and weightless for better and easier integration into architectural features. Thus thin-film solar materials [24], such as amorphous silicon, cadmium tellurium, CIGS, dye sensitized solar cells and organic photovoltaics have become attractive as complementary PV technologies to the conventional and bulky-looking crystalline silicon modules [25]. ...
Buildings in urban environments offer large areas available for the deployment of solar energy technologies. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are often considered for installation on rooftops, with façades usually being disregarded due to their non-optimal inclination. However, PV façades not only convey a cleaner image to buildings but may also act as optimizers of distributed generation. The contribution of differently oriented and tilted PV surfaces varies seasonally and depends on the urban layout, therefore the aggregation of rooftop and façade PV potential in a neighbourhood or a city might satisfy a relevant fraction of its combined electricity consumption even at off-peak production hours. The optimization of PV systems towards load-matching is crucial for the success of future solar communities.
This review aims to provide an overview on the rooftop versus façade PV paradigm in the context of future cities. The advantages of façades are highlighted along with methods to estimate their potential, and innovative technological approaches for their implementation are discussed.
... The advantages of solar panels on flexible metal substrates are obvious, namely, light weight, flexibility, and strength, especially in the fields of their application, such as outer space, aviation, electric cars, textile goods, portable electronics, and so forth [8]. Foil substrates make it possible to employ roll-to-roll technologies of film production ensuring a continuous process of their deposition at high rates and exclude the necessity of depositing a conducting back layer, thereby substantially decreasing the cost of solar panel fabrication. ...
Investigations into the influence of the substrate type (a glass substrate with a molybdenum sublayer, tantalum and molybdenum foils) on the surface morphology of Cu2ZnSnSe4 thin films obtained by selenization of electrochemically deposited and preliminary annealed metallic precursors are presented. Metal foils are attractive for use as substrates of solar cells in both ground and space objects due to their light weight, flexibility, and the possibility of using the commercial roll-to-roll technology of film fabrication, leading to a reduction in the cost. At different stages of Cu2ZnSnSe4 film preparation, their surface morphology is studied by atomic-force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive spectrometry. The metal substrate morphology is demonstrated to have an insignificant effect on the surface morphology of Cu2ZnSnSe4 films, indicating that flexible-foil substrates are promising for the production of thin-film solar cells.
... In recent years, few attempts have been made to deposit CZTSe on metal flexible substrates because of the potential to reduce production costs (Kaigawa et al., 2015;Kessler and Rudmann, 2004;Khalil et al., 2017;Lopez-Marino et al., 2016;Stanchik et al., 2018). Flexible modules offer several advantages for their manufacturing and applications compared to modules on glass substrates (Bojic et al., 2016;Jayawardena et al., 2013;Kesler et al., 2005;Otte et al., 2006;Pagliaro et al., 2008). Solar cells on flexible substrates are very thin, light-weight and they can be applied on bendable surfaces, which makes them also more suitable in use. ...
... Estimates of renewable energy sources by the year of 2040 are stated as following: 31% photovoltaic, 27% wind, 21% hydro, 14% bio, 3% solar-thermal, 3% geothermal, and 1% marine energy (Pagliaro et al., 2008). As it is seen, it is obvious that all renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind energy, will gain even more importance than today. ...
When it is called the “textile” term, it is the garment that comes to minds first. However, there is scarcely any application area that does not include a type of textile material. Automotives, electronics, cosmetics, energy applications, biomaterials, composites, and filters constitute some of the applications of textiles. As can be seen, there is a wide range of applications for textiles with various requirements.
The textiles have the advantage of being flexibly manufactured from fiber to fabric according to the requirements of the application.
Non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels or nuclear, have lost attention in recent years due to their damages to environment and the decrease in meeting the demands of world population. This is why the researchers have focused on renewable and sustainable energy. Efficient generation, high storing and harvesting studies have been the focus of academic interest in recent years. From this point of
view investigating the textile materials used in renewable and sustainable energy applications will be rational and sensible.
This chapter is a compendium of the recent textile researches about energy applications. Versatile textile products used in these energy applications is given in detail in subsections of geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrogen, marine, bio, solar, and wind energy applications. Estimates of renewable energy sources by the year of 2040 are stated as following: 31% photovoltaic, 27% wind, 21% hydro, 14% bio, 3% solar-thermal, 3% geothermal, and 1% marine energy (Pagliaro et al., 2008). As it is seen, it is obvious
that all renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind energy, will gain even more importance than today. As a result, common usage of textile products will take place in these renewable energy systems. And also new, more functional and advanced textile products will be in the focus of researchers.Although the production of traditional textile products which are the basic necessities of mankind continues rapidly all over the world, the productions of
advanced textile products which can be used in many technical fields have outgrown laboratory scale productions and gained commercial dimensions. Almost all forms of textile products are used in these renewable energy systems: fibers, yarns, woven or knitted fabrics, and nonwovens. In this chapter, these all types of textile products will be mentioned according to the energy applications used.
... On the other hand, because of better performance under cloudy sky and with higher temperatures, the use of thin-film technologies allows generation of more energy per watt installed compared with conventional crystalline Si modules with the same power rating. [12] For example, despite of nonoptimal tilt and orientation, a 752 kW PV plant using triplejunction solar cells using amorphous silicon (a-Si) over a geomembrane over Romes Malagrotta landfill (Figure 2), generated 1432 kWh of energy per kW installed in its first year, [13] which is an energy yield value closer to that of PV systems installed in Sicily rather than in central Italy, where a conventional PV system on average generates annually 1300 kWh per kW À1 . ...
Ideally suited for hosting large solar photovoltaic arrays feeding electricity into the grid, closed landfills will play a significant role in the undergoing energy transition from fossil-fuel and nuclear energy to renewable energy. Aimed at sustainability scholars and policy makers, this study identifies the economic, environmental, and social benefits of solar landfills, suggesting avenues for the massive transformation of hazardous landfills into renewable-energy-generation plants. Thus, the landfills no longer pose threats to human health and to the ecosystem.
This paper discusses the advancements in flexible photovoltaic technologies, with a specific focus on organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells. With the increasing global demand for renewable energy, these technologies present viable alternatives to traditional silicon-based solar panels. The principles of the photovoltaic effect are explored in detail, highlighting the mechanisms of light absorption, exciton generation, and charge separation that occur within these materials. Recent developments in material efficiency, stability, and production methods are reviewed, revealing the potential applications in smart clothing, portable devices, and building-integrated photovoltaics. While challenges remain in terms of performance and long-term durability, ongoing research and innovation promise to enhance the commercial viability of flexible photovoltaic technologies. This paper aims to provide insights into how these advancements can contribute to a more sustainable energy future, addressing both environmental concerns and the growing energy needs of society. Overall, flexible photovoltaic technologies represent an exciting area of research and development in the renewable energy landscape.
Flexible broadband solar plasmonic absorber is studied based on graded bandgap multilayer for the solar cell energy harvesting with high conversion efficiency sensitivity. The suggested solar cell structure ranges from ultraviolet (UV)/visible to near-infrared regions in AM0 solar cell illumination spectrum. OPAL 2 solar cell simulation software is used for this study. The solar cell structure composed of silicon substrate, window layer with aluminum nitride (AlN), transparent oxide layer with aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al), absorber layer with zinc sulfide (ZnS), and the contact layer with the gallium phosphide (GaP). The suggested solar cell reflection/absorption/transmission is clarified with the clarified wavelength spectrum band. The solar cell reflected/absorbed photocurrent is clarified with different surface morphology types. As well as the solar cell internal quantum efficiency (IQE) is also simulated with different surface morphology types. The solar cell power conversion efficiency is clarified with different substrate layer structures, absorber layer structures, and the contact layer structures. The solar cell equivalent circuit model diagram is clarified. The proposed solar cell achieved a max-power voltage (Vmp) of 423.83 mV, a max-power current (Jmp) of 61.487 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 584.35 mV, a short-circuit current (Jsc) of 66.44 mA/cm², a fill factor (FF) of 67.12%, and a power conversion efficiency of 26.06%.
The conceptual design of a hybrid aerial vehicle for the exploration of the upper Venus atmosphere is presented. The vehicle will float like a balloon and harvest solar energy which is stored in batteries. The neutral buoyancy reduces the energy consumption and makes the vehicle robust and durable. Energy stored in the batteries can be used for powered flight with good horizontal and vertical mobility to explore aspects of the atmosphere. The vehicle is intended to operate near 55.3 km altitude and to explore the cloud layer of the planet. The vehicle takes its inspiration from the Stingray inflatable wing by Prospective Concepts. Based on a trade study, the wing span was set to 25 m. Equations are developed for the altitude, gas and skin temperature, and skin stress during neutrally buoyant flight. To keep the equations in a simplified analytical form, the complex compartmentalized gas pockets of the vehicle are lumped into a single gas sphere. The equations take into account the volumetric expansion of the structure and the requirement that the differential pressure needs to be large enough to allow for brief periods of powered flight without significant structural deformation. An aerodynamic analysis provides the lift and drag coefficient curves and indicates that the vehicle is pitch-stable. A powered flight analysis shows that an airspeed of 30 m/s can be maintained for 31 min at 55 km and 69 min at 69 km altitude.
Quantum confinement effects and multiple exciton generation (MEG) were explored in this investigation to assist the hole transport and improved trapping of light in thin film solar cells (TFOSCs). The popular organic transport material Poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is employed here for effective electron blocking and hole transport processes through doping with quantum dots (QD). Alloyed CdTeSe QD is used, at different concentrations, in PEDOT:PSS layer to fabricate TFOSCs in the convectional device structure consisting of molecules blended as poly (3-hexylthiophene): (6, 6)-phenyl- C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) solar absorber. A remarkable increase in performance of the devices was achieved from TFOSC whose HTL doped with QDs that resulted in an optimal boost in power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 111.7% relative to the reference cell. The results suggest that the doping of HTL with the alloy of CdTeSe quantum dots assisted in electron blocking, and improved hole collection as well as improved light trapping at the interface between the solar absorber layer and HTL.
Flexible solar cells are important photovoltaics (PV) technologies due to the reduced processing temperature, less material consumption and mechanical flexibility, thus they have promising applications for portable devices and building-integrated applications. However, the efficient harvesting of photons is the core hindrance towards efficient, flexible PV. Light management by nanostructures and nanomaterials has opened new pathways for sufficient solar energy harvesting. Nanostructures on top surfaces provide an efficient pathway for the propagation of light. Aside from suppressing incident light reflection, micro-structured back-reflectors reduce transmission via multiple reflections. Nanostructures themselves can be the absorber layer. Photovoltaics based on high-crystallinity nanostructured light absorbers demonstrate enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) and excellent mechanical flexibility. To acquire a deep understanding of the impacts of nanostructures, herein, a concise overview of the recent development in the design and application of nanostructures and nanomaterials for photovoltaics is summarized.
Thin-film solar cells have gone through extensive research in recent past and are expected to grow further due to rising demand of energy and global warming. Although the thin-film solar cells have traditionally been fabricated on rigid and flat substrates called as the rigid solar cells, these rigid solar cells are not suitable for their installation on curvilinear surfaces such as the outer body of vehicle, roof of train coach, human body, etc. But generally, the flexibility is achieved at the expense of degrading performance and stability of solar cells which has been the severe bottleneck for their commercialization. This chapter presents an overview of the flexible solar cell technology. The important aspects covered in this chapter are the requirement of flexible solar cells, semiconductor and substrate materials required for fabrication, popular techniques for material and cell characterization, issues, and applications.
This work demonstrates the deposition of a
thin film on the flexible and bio-degradable cellulose paper
via
vacuum filtration technique followed by encapsulation in between flexible PDMS with gaussian microstructures at the top and plain layer of PDMS at the bottom. The fabricated sensor displayed improved sensitivity of 2.65 kPa
−1
in comparison to the sensitivity (1.53 kPa
−1
) calculated with unpatterned PDMS encapsulation. The enhancement of sensitivity with microstructured PDMS as force transfer layer was achieved due to quick escalation in contact area even under the application of small external pressure because of the uniform distribution of the pressure by Gaussian patterned morphology. The rise time and fall time of the fabricated sensor were found to be 400 msec and 100 msec respectively. The fabricated sensor was also utilized to detect the unknown location and position of the object using a
matrix array. Further, the fabricated sensor was used to demonstrate the human-machine interaction utilizing the smart glove and also an alteration in the brightness of a LED by exerting external pressure on the sensor. The successful demonstration of cost-effective, flexible
/cellulose paper pressure sensor has shown innovative applications in the field of security, the educational sector, artificial limbs, etc.
Recent progress in high temperature resistance PI substrate with low CTE for CIGS thin film solar cells, Materials Today Energy, https://doi. CIGS modules produced by different manufactures: (a) Solar Frontier's CIGS module on glass substrate, (b) Miasole's CIGS module on stainless steel substrate, (c) Global Solar's CIGS module on stainless steel substrate, and (d) Ascent Solar's CIGS module on PI substrate. J o u r n a l P r e-p r o o f 1 Recent progress in high temperature resistance PI substrate with low Abstract 18 Copper indium gallium di-selenide [Cu(InGa)Se 2 or CIGS] thin film solar cell has 19 attracted great attention due to their high efficiency, low cost potential, less raw 20 materials consumption and so on. Using polyimide (PI) as the flexible substrate, the 21 CIGS thin film solar cell has the advantages of light weight, flexibility and low 22 energy consumption compared with the conventional hard glass substrate. However, 23 there are still challenges in PI foils for flexible CIGS substrate application: (1) the 24 thermal resistance of the PI foils is not high enough, which cannot stand in the high 25 temperature CIGS absorber formation process. (2) The coefficient of thermal 26 expansion (CTE) of the PI foils is too large, which causes peeling-off problems of 27 subsequently deposited Mo back electrode on the PI foils. This paper reviews the 28 J o u r n a l P r e-p r o o f 2 current status of the CIGS solar cells on flexible polyimide. In addition, recent 29 progress and future prospects of the high-temperature resistance and low thermal 30 expansion of PI foils for high efficiency are reviewed. 31
Graphene is a flat, single layer of carbon atoms
structured in a hexagonal lattice. It has outstanding electrical,
thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. All of these
enabled a great interest for a wide diversity of application fields,
among them also that of electrical and electronic engineering.
The paper is a survey on possible applications of graphene and
other nano carbon allotropes in these fields.
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have received a special attention over the past years due to their solution processability, low cost, flexibility and capability of role-to-role production. The power conversion efficiency of these devices has been significantly increased over the past decades from 1% in 1986 to 5% in 2005 and to up to 13% in 2017 thanks to the molecular optimization and the use of non-fullerene acceptors in their active materials. Despite such interesting efficiency, their applications remain limited so far because of instability and short life time of their active layers. It is expected that these obstacles will be surmounted in a foreseeable future upon rigorous research studies performed in the field. This paper is devoted to reviewing the operating principle, characterization parameters and the most important approaches that are considered aiming at improving the overall performance of these devices.
We study the injection current response tensor (also known as circular photogalvanic effect or ballistic current) in ferrolectric monolayer GeS, GeSe, SnS, and SnSe. We find that the injection current is perpendicular to the spontaneous in-plane polarization and could reach peak (bulk) values of the order of 1010AV−2s−1 in the visible spectrum. The magnitude of the injection current is the largest reported in the literature to date for a two dimensional material. To rationalize the large injection current, we correlate the injection current spectrum with the joint density of states, electric polarization, strain, etc. We find that various factors such as anisotropy, in-plane polarization and wave function delocalization are important in determining the injection current tensor in these materials. We also find that compression along the polar axis can increase the injection current (or change its sign), and hence strain can be an effective control knob for their nonlinear optical response. Conversely, the injection current can be a sensitive probe of the crystal structure.
The demand for energy is at a rapid expansion. However, the unsustainable ways of utilizing current energy resources have endangered the entire life on the Earth. One of the sustainable solutions is the increase of utilization of solar energy. A solar cell is a device that directly converts sunlight into most usable forms of energy, i.e. electricity or chemical energy. The additional advantages of solar cells are their minimal maintenance cost and zero cost for input energy (sunlight). In addition, the solar cell is a green and zero emission device. It has been evolved through three generations, and there are several novel technologies that have already shown high potential. However, many of the third‐generation cells are in experimental stage. The solar cell mechanism can be divided into three processes: charge generation, charge separation, and charge transportation. Charge separation and charge transportation efficiencies need to be improved in order to enhance the solar cell performances. Wide bandgap semiconductors can be used to prepare photo‐electrochemical solar cells by means of photosensitization. Due to the smaller size of the quantum dot (QD) particles, their optical and electronic properties do deviate from the bulk materials. Therefore, the optical and electronic properties of semiconductor QD particles can be engineered by changing the size, shape, and the type of the semiconductor material. The size dependence of bandgap energy of QDs can be used to prepare solar cells with wide absorption spectrum. The quantum dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) are reliable devices to fulfill future energy demand due to prospected higher efficiency and stability, facile and low‐cost fabrication techniques and environmentally friendly operation. Quantum dots (QDs) of PdS, CdS, or CdSe have widely been used to produce photosensitize wide bandgap semiconductors. In addition, the quantum dots based on CdTe, CuInS2, Cu2S, PbSe, InP, InAs, Ag2S, Bi2S3, and Sb2S3 are also considered as suitable sensitizers for solar cells. The QD layers are commonly deposited by using chemical bath deposition (CBD), electrophoretic deposition (EPD), electro‐depositing (ED), successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) or spin coating (SP) methods on the nanostructured thin films of wide bandgap semiconductors. In general, the stability in photo‐electrochemical solar cells can be increased by substituting liquid electrolytes by polymer electrolytes. The gel polymer electrolytes ensure the long‐term stability since the polymer suppresses the evaporation of solvent in the electrolyte. A limited number of research woks have been reported on polymer electrolyte‐based QDSSCs. According to reports published so far, the polysulfide ion‐conducting hydrogel electrolytes have given better results for QDDSCs. The commonly used counter electrode materials are platinum (Pt), copper(I) sulfide (Cu2S), gold (Au), or carbon (C). However, Cu2S‐based counter electrodes have shown better performances. Though very high efficiencies are expected from QDSSCs, the reported energy conversion efficiencies of QDSSCs are still low, and thus, more researches on developing polymer electrolyte‐based QDSSCs are required.
We report a simple method to fabricate highly efficient and robust flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) along with their photo-stability. The solar cells were prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate substrates. The solar cells incorporated methylammonium lead iodide chloride (CH3NH3PbI3−xClx) perovskite as the light absorber, tin oxide (SnO2) as the electron transport layer (ETL), Spiro-MeOTAD as the hole transport layer and Ag as the top electrode. This structure exhibited a very high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ~80% at 500 nm and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.7% ± 0.6% (active area 9.6 mm²) with multiple bending cycles showing no effect on the performance, even after 100 bending cycles. To evaluate their lifetime in the dark and under actual operating conditions, a systematic study was performed on the unsealed devices. The solar cells showed a halflife (T50) of about 340 h when stored in the dark in an ambient environment, but they degraded very rapidly in direct sunlight. The main reason behind their degradation was found to be the rapid degradation in their short circuit current density (Jsc). The same device design was processed to fabricate large area flexible solar modules with an area of 5 × 5 cm² (active area 15.84 cm²) and the solar modules exhibited PCE of 5.6% ± 0.2%. Substantial loss of PCE in the modules compared to small area devices has been attributed to the larger series resistance of the longer ITO electrodes used in the modules.
Bidirectional DC-DC converters are an essential part of modern power systems, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy. The paper presents a comparative analysis of bidirectional DC-DC converters suitable for high power density application without galvanic isolation. It is based on the comprehensive comparative analysis of conduction losses, voltage stress on semiconductors and passive component size. Continuous conduction mode of three widely used bidirectional topologies (cascaded, two-phase interleaved with and without charge-pump) are analysed. Selected analytically calculated evaluation criteria are compared for a wide range of the output voltage level. The best solution is selected for experimental realization based on GaN transistors.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.24.6.22287
High precision register controls are indispensable in roll-to-roll (R2R) printing systems for mass manufacturing. In R2R printing systems, each gravure cylinder is driven by an individual motor and guiding rolls distributed between two adjacent gravure cylinders are driven by the tension of their wrapped web. In the speed-up phase, tension fluctuations caused by torque balance of guiding rolls generate register errors in each printing unit. Therefore, it is a challenging issue to design a control method to reduce the register errors. In this paper, a mechanical model of R2R printing systems in the speed-up phase is developed based on the principle of mass conservation and torque balance. A model-based feed-forward proportion-derivative controller is designed to reduce the register errors caused by the tension fluctuations. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulation and experiments carried out on an industrial rotogravure printing press. A comparison with other control methods especially a well-tuned proportion differential control which is widely adopted by printing presses shows that the absolute maximum register error is drastically reduced and the average register error is greatly decreased by the proposed method. The results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control method.
Advantages of multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with various methods—such as spin labels and probes, microwave saturation, and saturation transfer—for investigating various polymeric systems are presented. Paramagnetic centers that are stabilized and/or initiated as a nanoscope probe can provide detailed information about structure and dynamics of the microenvironment. Correlations of structural, morphological, and dynamic characteristics of polymer systems with magnetic, relaxation, and mobile properties of paramagnetic centers embedded into their bulk are also discussed.
We demonstrate thin-film GaSb solar cells which are isolated from a GaSb substrate and transferred to a Si substrate. We epitaxially grow 3.3 um thick GaSb P on N diode structures on a GaSb substrate. Upon patterning in 2D arrays of pixels, the GaSb films are released via epitaxial lift-off and they are transferred to Si substrates. Encapsulation of each pixel preserves the structural integrity of the GaSb film during lift-off. Using this technique, we consistently transfer 4 x 4 mm2 array of pixelated GaSb membranes to a Si substrate with a 80%–100% yield. The area of individual pixels ranges from 90 x 90 um2 to 340 x 340 um2. Further processing to fabricate photovoltaic devices is performed after the transfer. GaSb solar cells with lateral sizes of 340 x 340 um2 under illumination exhibit efficiencies of 3%, which compares favorably with extracted values for large-area (i.e., 5 x 5 mm2) homoepitaxial GaSb solar cells on GaSb substrates.
Thin-film solar cell devices based on copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGSe) chalcogenide materials fabricated by vacuum-based deposition techniques have already achieved lab scale efficiency beyond 21%. For industrial-scale applications, non-vacuum deposition technique such as electrodeposition and screen printing is considered to be suitable approaches for reducing the device fabrication cost. Moreover, electrodeposition has the potential to prepare large area thin films as it requires cheap raw material sources and equipment capital. Hence, it is imperative to understand the current status and advancements in the electroplating techniques of the CIGSe thin films. This article reviews on the experimental advances in electroplating of ternary CuInSe2 and quaternary CIGSe. Various approaches in electrodeposition, influential experimental parameters, and the deposition mechanisms which are related to the final cell efficiency are discussed in detail.
This chapter provides a brief account of the main types of solar cell and module in widespread use today. It focuses initially on crystalline silicon solar cells for two main reasons: their comparatively simple crystal structure and theoretical background and their present dominant position in the terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) market. The chapter covers some fundamental aspects of solar cell operation, including the key role played by light-generated minority carriers. It considers the voltage-current characteristics of the cell as measured at its output terminals. The chapter also covers the main categories of efficiency loss in crystalline silicon solar cells. The crystalline silicon PV technologies that comprise interconnected small cells forming PV modules are the first generation of PV in the market. The chapter discusses notable advances of third-generation technologies, namely, organic cells and nanostructures, dye-sensitized cells (DSCs), and multi-junction III/V cells.
This chapter provides an overview of recent progress in the study of thin-film Si photovoltaic (PV) technologies, specifically devices in flexible, stretchable, and/or degradable formats for biomedical applications. First, various approaches for synthesis, fabrication, and assembly of different types of thin-film Si PV cells, ranging from amorphous Si, microcrystalline Si to single-crystalline Si cells, are reviewed. Performances of various cells are also discussed. Materials selection and mechanical considerations are presented, both analytically and numerically, for achieving design flexible and stretchable Si PV cells for lightweight, wearable, and/or implantable light detection and energy harvesting systems. Finally, strategies to form thin-film Si PV cells in a water-soluble and biodegradable “transient” format for bio-integration are discussed. Because of these novel characteristics, thin-film Si PV cells offer a promising solution for energy supply in emerging biomedical applications.
By using the charge modulated reflectance (CMR) imaging technique, charge distribution in the pentacene organic field-effect transistor (OFET) with a ferroelectric gate insulator [P(VDF-TrFE)] was investigated in terms of polarization reversal of the P(VDF-TrFE) layer. We studied the polarization reversal process and the carrier spreading process in the OFET channel. The I-V measurement showed a hysteresis behavior caused by the spontaneous polarization of P(VDF-TrFE), but the hysteresis I-V curve changes depending on the applied drain bias, possibly due to the gradual shift of the polarization reversal position in the OFET channel. CMR imaging visualized the gradual shift of the polarization reversal position and showed that the electrostatic field formed by the polarization of P(VDF-TrFE) contributes to hole and electron injection into the pentacene layer and the carrier distribution is significantly dependent on the direction of the polarization. The polarization reversal position in the channel region is governed by the electrostatic potential, and it happens where the potential reaches the coercive voltage of P(VDF-TrFE). The transmission line model developed on the basis of the Maxwell-Wagner effect element analysis well accounts for this polarization reversal process in the OFET channel.
Multifunctional NanocoatingsMultifunctional TextilesProtecting Cultural HeritageProtecting Goods from LightReferences
The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) using MgO barrier is one of most important building blocks for spintronic devices and has been widely utilized as miniaturized magentic sensors. It could play an important role in wearable medical devices if they can be fabricated on flexible substrates. The required stringent fabrication processes to obtain high quality MgO-barrier MTJs, however, limit its integration with flexible electronics devices. In this work, we have developed a method to fabricate high-performance MgO-barrier MTJs directly onto ultrathin flexible silicon membrane with a thickness of 14 μm and then transfer-and-bond to plastic substrates. Remarkably, such flexible MTJs are fully functional, exhibiting a TMR ratio as high as 190% under bending radii as small as 5 mm. The devices‘ robustness is manifested by its retained excellent performance and unaltered TMR ratio after over 1000 bending cycles. The demonstrated flexible MgO-barrier MTJs opens the door to integrating high-performance spintronic devices in flexible and wearable electronics devices for a plethora of biomedical sensing applications.
This project investigates the light transmittance of load-bearing glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates with a view to two architectural applications: the daylighting of buildings through load-bearing translucent GFRP envelopes and encapsulation of solar cells into the GFRP building skins of sandwich structures. The total and diffuse visible light transmittances of the laminates were experimentally investigated using a spectrophotometer coupled to an integrating sphere. The refractive indices of polymeric resin and glass fibers were also investigated and numerical ray-tracing simulations were performed to demonstrate the experimentally observed wavelength dependency of light diffusion. The total transmittance and translucency of GFRP laminates were analytically modeled as a function of the reinforcement weight, fiber architecture and fiber volume fraction. Goniophotometric experiments – performed to investigate the directional light scattering of laminates reinforced with different fiber architectures – were demonstrated as an effective method to predict the fiber architecture of translucent GFRP laminates. The optical properties of the laminates, i.e. the total and diffuse transmittances and directionality of light diffusion, were correlated with the experimentally investigated mechanical properties, i.e. the directional tensile strength and E-modulus. The experimental work demonstrated that structural skylights could be designed with GFRP laminates exhibiting a translucency of 0.9 and total light transmittance of 0.5 – minimum values recommended for daylighting of buildings through translucent envelopes – and that solar cells could be encapsulated in load-bearing GFRP laminates with a total light transmittance of around 0.83. A case study was performed using the GFRP/polyurethane sandwich roof of the Novartis Campus Main Gate Building to demonstrate the basic feasibility of integrating skylights and solar cells into the external translucent skin of optimized sandwich structures. Finally, the encapsulation of transparent and colored dye solar cells in translucent GFRP laminates has been explored. Prototype solar panels have been fabricated and a significant weight reduction, increase in structural strength and around 10% reduction of electrical efficiency compared to traditional solar panels with glass encapsulants were achieved.
Indonesia terletak di daerah katulistiwa sehingga memiliki intensitas penyinaran matahari yang baik
sepanjang tahun. Kondisi penyinaran ini potensial untuk digunakan dalam pembangkitan listrik tenaga
surya (PLTS). Pemanfaatan tenaga matahari untuk pembangkitan listrik sebenarnya sudah dilakukan
sejak cukup lama namun aplikasinya masih terbatas pada sistem berdaya kecil atau yang lebih dikenal
dengan solar home system (SHS). SHS ini biasanya merupakan bantuan pemerintah yang diberikan secara
subsidi dan masyarakat pedesaan menggunakannya sebagai sarana penerangan di malam hari untuk
mengganti lampu minyak tanah. Dalam konteks ini terlihat bahwa pendekatan yang digunakan bersifat
top-down sehingga selama ini perkembangan SHS sangat tergantung pada program pemerintah dan sejauh
ini kontribusi energi listrik surya nasional masih sangat kecil.
Masyarakat perkotaan merupakan komponen yang cukup besar dalam komposisi populasi Indonesia.
Sebenarnya kelompok masyarakat ini hampir semuanya berada dalam jangkauan jaringan listrik PLN
namun demikian mereka memiliki karakteristik yang lebih baik dibandingkan dengan masyarakat
pedesaan dalam pemanfaatan PLTS seperti daya beli, tingkat pendidikan, serta pemahaman tentang
lingkungan dan penyelamatannya. Di samping itu, peranan energi listrik dalam kehidupan masyarakat
urban sudah sangat melekat sehingga ketidaktersediaan energi tersebut akan berpengaruh langsung
terhadap kehidupan mereka seperti produktifitas dan kenyamanan. Beberapa ciri positif yang dimiliki
masyarakat urban ini bisa dijadikan penggerak pemasyarakatan PLTS perkotaan yang bersifat swakarsa
dan swakelola. Melalui pendekatan berbasis pemberdayaan masyarakat kota ini diharapkan akan menjadi
komponen penting dalam upaya peningkatan kapasitas terpasang PLTS nasional untuk mencapai target
sekitar 5% energi listrik terbarukan pada tahun 2025 seperti ditetapkan dalam Kebijakan Energi Nasional.
Salah satu prasyarat dalam perluasan pemanfaatan PLTS adalah ketersediaan peralatan dan
komponen PLTS tersebut. Tulisan ini mencoba untuk meninjau ketersediaan sistem PLTS di Indonesia
yang kapasitasnya sesuai dengan kebutuhan rumah tangga di perkotaan. Ketersediaan yang dimaksud
meliputi data tentang kapasitas dan vendor dari komponen PLTS. Informasi tentang ini diharapkan dapat
dijadikan sebagai salah satu acuan cepat untuk mengetahui perkembangan PLTS di Indonesia khususnya
bagi masyarakat yang tertarik untuk memanfaatkan tenaga matahari sebagai sumber pembangkit listrik
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.