Download or read book Grain Boundary Physics in Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Materials written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 7 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper describes a study of the atomic structure and electronic effects of grain boundaries in polycrystalline photovoltaic materials such as Si, CdTe, CuInSe2, and CuGaSe2.
Download or read book Understanding of Defect Physics in Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Materials Preprint written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The performance of thin-film solar cells is influenced by the quality of interfaces and formation of defects such as point defects, stacking faults, twins, dislocations, and grain boundaries. It is important to understand the defect physics so that appropriate methods may be developed to suppress the formation of harmful defects. Here, we review our understanding of defect physics in thin-filmphotovoltaic (PV) materials such as Si, CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS), Cu2ZnSnSe2 (CZTSe), and Cu2ZnSnS2 (CZTS) using the combination of nanoscale electron microscopy characterization and density-functional theory (DFT). Although these thin-film PV materials share the same basic structural feature - diamond structure based - the defect physics in them could be very different. Some defects, such asstacking faults and special twins, have similar electronic properties in these thin-film materials. However, some other defects, such as grain boundaries and interfaces, have very different electronic properties in these materials. For example, grain boundaries produce harmful deep levels in Si and CdTe, but they do not produce significant deep levels in CIGS, CZTSe, and CZTS. These explain whypassivation is critical for Si and CdTe solar cells, but is less important in CIS and CZTS solar cells. We further provide understanding of the effects of interfaces on the performance of solar cells made of these PV materials.
Download or read book Understanding of Defect Physics in Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Materials written by Yanfa Yan and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 5 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The performance of thin-film solar cells is influenced by the quality of interfaces and formation of defects such as point defects, stacking faults, twins, dislocations, and grain boundaries. It is important to understand the defect physics so that appropriate methods may be developed to suppress the formation of harmful defects. Here, we review our understanding of defect physics in thin-film photovoltaic (PV) materials such as Si, CdTe, Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS), Cu2ZnSnSe2 (CZTSe), and Cu2ZnSnS2 (CZTS) using the combination of nanoscale electron microscopy characterization and density-functional theory (DFT). Although these thin-film PV materials share the same basic structural feature - diamond structure based - the defect physics in them could be very different. Some defects, such as stacking faults and special twins, have similar electronic properties in these thin-film materials. However, some other defects, such as grain boundaries and interfaces, have very different electronic properties in these materials. For example, grain boundaries produce harmful deep levels in Si and CdTe, but they do not produce significant deep levels in CIGS, CZTSe, and CZTS. These explain why passivation is critical for Si and CdTe solar cells, but is less important in CIS and CZTS solar cells. We further provide understanding of the effects of interfaces on the performance of solar cells made of these PV materials.
Download or read book The Study of Grain Boundaries in Polycrystalline Thin film Solar Cells written by Bingrui Joel Li and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Silicon is one of the most studied semiconductor materials with techniques to control and manipulate its properties well established by the integrated circuit (IC) industry. While silicon wafer-based technology constitutes about 85% of the photovoltaics (PV) market, there are compelling reasons to develop thin-film solar cells. These include potential material cost and energy savings achievable with thin absorber layers of direct band-gap thin film materials, and the potential for incorporation of thin film PV onto inexpensive, flexible, or building material substrates, which opens up the possibility of new applications. Given the success of silicon wafer-based solar cells in the PV market, crystalline silicon on glass is a natural choice for thin-film PV technology. However, the efficiency of this technology is still too low to compete in the PV market. In fact, its record efficiency is only 10.5% which was achieved by CSG Solar. In order to boost the efficiency of this technology, we explore the use of ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD) to create biaxially-textured silicon films which can potentially have less defects at the grain boundaries. Experimentally, we have fabricated an operational biaxially-textured silicon solar cell whose Voc is likely to have been affected by intra-grain defects as shown by our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. In order to investigate the interplay between grain boundary and intra-grain defects on solar cell performance and determine the potential benefits of developing biaxially-textured film solar cells, I used Synopsys' two-dimensional technology computer-aided design (TCAD) Sentaurus simulation tool. In general, the simulations found that biaxially-textured silicon solar cells improve solar cell efficiencies but there is small improvement for devices that have both large grains and low intra-grain carrier lifetime. Among the various thin-film technologies, CdTe and Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se)2 (CIGSSe), dominate the thin-film PV market. However in recent years, the photovoltaic community has seen growing interest in CZTS-based thin-film solar cells which include Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) and Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells. This is driven by their potential to replace Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) and CdTe solar cells which face material scarcity, toxicity and market acceptance issues. In polycrystalline CIGSe-based (CIGSe, CISe, CuGaSe2 (CGSe)) and CdTe solar cells, grain boundaries do not seem to affect solar cell efficiency as much. In fact, some studies have identified grain boundaries as the source of high efficiency in polycrystalline CIGSe-based and CdTe solar cells. CIGSe-based and CZTS-based films are similar in terms of growth methods, optoelectronic and crystallographic properties. Because of these similarities and the benign nature of grain boundaries in CIGSe-based and CdTe films, it would be useful to examine the properties of grain boundaries in these materials. Using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) techniques, I investigated the electronic properties of grain boundaries in CIGSe, CZTS and CZTSSe solar cells. SKPM measurements carried out in this work reveal a higher positive surface potential at the grain boundaries as compared to the grain while C-AFM measurements show higher current flow in the vicinity of the grain boundaries. These two measurement results are similar to those obtained for high quality CIGSe and CdTe and together they demonstrate the enhanced minority carrier collection taking place at the grain boundaries of CZTS and CZTSSe. Although SKPM measurement are susceptible to topographical and geometric effects, we believe that this effect is not dominating in our measurements as topography and surface potential profile lines are not exact mirror images of one another and regions of similar height have different potentials and vice versa. Nonetheless, I used a technique that involves photoreduction of AgNO3 to provide convincing evidence that our SKPM result is not a result of experimental artifacts but is truly indicative of the higher positive potential at the grain boundary. Having benign or beneficial grain boundaries have been found to be essential for achieving high efficiencies in polycrystalline CIGSe and CdTe solar cells. In my investigation, I found that high efficiency CZTS and CZTSSe solar cells have similar grain boundary electronic properties as high efficiency CIGSe and CdTe solar cells. As such, it might be possible for CZTS and CZTSSe solar cells to achieve similar high efficiencies as CIGSe and CdTe solar cells if other defects (intra-grain, surface and interfacial) are not limiting efficiencies.
Download or read book Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide Based Thin Film Solar Cells written by Kentaro Ito and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-02-23 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with an overview and historical background of Copper Zinc Tin Sulphide (CZTS) technology, subsequent chapters cover properties of CZTS thin films, different preparation methods of CZTS thin films, a comparative study of CZTS and CIGS solar cell, computational approach, and future applications of CZTS thin film solar modules to both ground-mount and rooftop installation. The semiconducting compound (CZTS) is made up earth-abundant, low-cost and non-toxic elements, which make it an ideal candidate to replace Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) and CdTe solar cells which face material scarcity and toxicity issues. The device performance of CZTS-based thin film solar cells has been steadily improving over the past 20 years, and they have now reached near commercial efficiency levels (10%). These achievements prove that CZTS-based solar cells have the potential to be used for large-scale deployment of photovoltaics. With contributions from leading researchers from academia and industry, many of these authors have contributed to the improvement of its efficiency, and have rich experience in preparing a variety of semiconducting thin films for solar cells.
Download or read book Perovskite Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics written by Tsutomu Miyasaka and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2022-03-21 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perovskite Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics Discover a one-of-a-kind treatment of perovskite photovoltaics In less than a decade, the photovoltaics of organic-inorganic halide perovskite materials has surpassed the efficiency of semiconductor compounds like CdTe and CIGS in solar cells. In Perovskite Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications, distinguished engineer Dr. Tsutomu Miyasaka delivers a comprehensive exploration of foundational and advanced topics regarding halide perovskites. It summarizes the latest information and discussion in the field, from fundamental theory and materials to critical device applications. With contributions by top scientists working in the perovskite community, the accomplished editor has compiled a resource of central importance for researchers working on perovskite related materials and devices. This edited volume includes coverage of new materials and their commercial and market potential in areas like perovskite solar cells, perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and perovskite-based photodetectors. It also includes: A thorough introduction to halide perovskite materials, their synthesis, and dimension control Comprehensive explorations of the photovoltaics of halide perovskites and their historical background Practical discussions of solid-state photophysics and carrier transfer mechanisms in halide perovskite semiconductors In-depth examinations of multi-cation anion-based high efficiency perovskite solar cells Perfect for materials scientists, crystallization physicists, surface chemists, and solid-state physicists, Perovskite Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications is also an indispensable resource for solid state chemists and device/electronics engineers.
Download or read book Method of Making Quasi grain Boundary free Polycrystalline Solar Cell Structure and Solar Cell Structure Obtained Thereby written by and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new solar cell structure is provided which will increase the efficiency of polycrystalline solar cells by suppressing or completely eliminating the recombination losses due to the presence of grain boundaries. This is achieved by avoiding the formation of the p-n junction (or other types of junctions) in the grain boundaries and by eliminating the grain boundaries from the active area of the cell. This basic concept can be applied to any polycrystalline material; however, it will be most beneficial for cost-effective materials having small grains, including thin film materials.
Download or read book Chalcogenide Photovoltaics written by Roland Scheer and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-03-31 with total page 398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This first comprehensive description of the most important material properties and device aspects closes the gap between general books on solar cells and journal articles on chalcogenide-based photovoltaics. Written by two very renowned authors with years of practical experience in the field, the book covers II-VI and I-III-VI2 materials as well as energy conversion at heterojunctions. It also discusses the latest semiconductor heterojunction models and presents modern analysis concepts. Thin film technology is explained with an emphasis on current and future techniques for mass production, and the book closes with a compendium of failure analysis in photovoltaic thin film modules. With its overview of the semiconductor physics and technology needed, this practical book is ideal for students, researchers, and manufacturers, as well as for the growing number of engineers and researchers working in companies and institutes on chalcogenide photovoltaics.
Download or read book The Physics Of Solar Cells written by Jenny A Nelson and published by World Scientific Publishing Company. This book was released on 2003-05-09 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of the photovoltaic cell. It is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers new to the field. It covers: basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices; physical models of solar cell operation; characteristics and design of common types of solar cell; and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. The text explains the terms and concepts of solar cell device physics and shows the reader how to formulate and solve relevant physical problems. Exercises and worked solutions are included.
Download or read book Grain Growth in Polycrystalline Materials III written by Hasso Weiland and published by Minerals, Metals, & Materials Society. This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book documents research presented during the Third International Conference on Grain Growth in 1998. The consequences of grain growth are of considerable technological and industrial importance in determining the manufacturability and service life of metals, ceramics, thin films, and other fine-grained materials. Coverage includes grain growth theory and simulation, geometry, pinning of grain growth, and grain boundary properties.
Download or read book Solar Cell Device Physics written by Stephen J. Fonash and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Solar Cell Device Physics offers a balanced, in-depth qualitative and quantitative treatment of the physical principles and operating characteristics of solar cell devices. Topics covered include photovoltaic energy conversion and solar cell materials and structures, along with homojunction solar cells. Semiconductor-semiconductor heterojunction cells and surface-barrier solar cells are also discussed. This book consists of six chapters and begins by introducing the reader to the basic physical principles and materials properties that are the foundations of photovoltaic energy conversion, with emphasis on various photovoltaic devices capable of efficiently converting solar energy into usable electrical energy. The electronic and optical properties of crystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous materials with both organic and inorganic materials are considered, together with the manner in which these properties change from one material class to another and the implications of such changes for photovoltaics. Generation, recombination, and bulk transport are also discussed. The two mechanisms of photocarrier collection in solar cells, drift and diffusion, are then compared. The remaining chapters focus on specific solar cell device classes defined in terms of the interface structure employed: homojunctions, semiconductor-semiconductor heterojunctions, and surface-barrier devices. This monograph is appropriate for use as a textbook for graduate students in engineering and the sciences and for seniors in electrical engineering and applied physics, as well as a reference book for those actively involved in solar cell research and development.
Download or read book Transmission Electron Microscopy Characterization of Nanomaterials written by Challa S.S.R. Kumar and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-12-09 with total page 718 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Third volume of a 40volume series on nanoscience and nanotechnology, edited by the renowned scientist Challa S.S.R. Kumar. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview about Transmission electron microscopy characterization of nanomaterials. Modern applications and state-of-the-art techniques are covered and make this volume an essential reading for research scientists in academia and industry.
Download or read book Photovoltaic Materials written by Bube Richard H and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1998-05-30 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research and development of photovoltaic solar cells is playing an ever larger practical role in energy supply and ecological conservation all over the world. Many materials science problems are encountered in understanding existing solar cells and the development of more efficient, less costly, and more stable cells. This important and timely book provides a historical overview, but concentrates primarily on exciting developments in the last decade. It describes the properties of the materials that play an important role in photovoltaic applications, the solar cell structures in which they are used, and the experimental and theoretical developments that have led to the most promising contenders./a
Download or read book Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics written by Peter W. Hawkes and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2007-07-18 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics merges two long-running serials-Advances in Electronics and Electron Physics and Advances in Optical and Electron Microscopy. This series features extended articles on the physics of electron devices (especially semiconductor devices), particle optics at high and low energies, microlithography, image science and digital image processing, electromagnetic wave propagation, electron microscopy, and the computing methods used in all these domains
Download or read book Earth Abundant Materials for Solar Cells written by Sadao Adachi and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-10-28 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Systematically describes the physical and materials properties of copper-based quaternary chalcogenide semiconductor materials, enabling their potential for photovoltaic device applications. Intended for scientists and engineers, in particular, in the fields of multinary semiconductor physics and a variety of photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.
Download or read book Summary of Flat Plate Solar Array Project Documentation written by M. J. Phillips and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Grain Boundary Segregation in Metals written by Pavel Lejcek and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-07-20 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grain boundaries are important structural components of polycrystalline materials used in the vast majority of technical applications. Because grain boundaries form a continuous network throughout such materials, their properties may limit their practical use. One of the serious phenomena which evoke these limitations is the grain boundary segregation of impurities. It results in the loss of grain boundary cohesion and consequently, in brittle fracture of the materials. The current book deals with fundamentals of grain boundary segregation in metallic materials and its relationship to the grain boundary structure, classification and other materials properties.
