Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Basic Fundamentals of Different Solar Cells, Solar Energy Materials and Photovoltaic Performances

Rajesh Das, Himadari Shekhar Das, Surya Kanta Bhowmik

Abstract


Solar cell is one of the thrust areas of modern technology in the field of renewable energy. Crystalline semiconductor wafer based solar cells (SCs) (thicknesses almost 200–300 μm) mainly crystalline-Si or GaAs based solar cells are playing the legend role in last few decades. With technological revolution, thin film SCs (thickness range 1–2 μm), dye-sensitized or Graetzel, organic/polymer and plasmonic solar cell respectively are known as 2nd,3rd, 4th and 5th generation in the field of solar photovoltaics. Amorphous/microcrystalline/ polycrystalline–Si or Micro-morph/Nano-morph Si- or CuInSe2/CuInGaSe or InGaAs based thin film solar cells are the second generation that can be environmentally stable and comparatively low cost. Cost reduction is done by using cheap substrates such as glass, plastic or stainless steel and by lowering the amount of material used as well as increasing the energy production. For modification of solar cell performance variety of semiconductors including cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide, as well as amorphous Si are used. Very recently latest power conversion efficiency of 12% for organic solar cell using small molecules (oligomers) as reported Heliatek GmbH in 2014. Scientists are putting more interest in perovskite based OPV device and using combinations of small molecules and conjugated polymers, or combinations of inorganic and organic materials as the active layer. New concept like surface Plasmon resonance is being implemented for modification of SC technology. This paper reports the review about the roadmap of improvements of PV materials and technology. Keywords: Solar cell, solar cell materials, plasmon resonance, photovoltaic performances

Full Text:

PDF

References


Kuji Yamamoto. Thin-Film Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells. PV Research Division, Kaneka Corporation (2-1-1, Hieitsuji, Otsa 520-01404). JSAP International No. 7. Jan 2013.

Michael Gratzel. Review Dye Sensitized Solar Cells. J. Photoch. Photobio. C: Photochemistry Reviews. 2003; 4: 145–153p.

Ha TT, Lam QV, Huynh TD. Quantum Dots-Sensitized Solar Cell: Silar Cycles Effect on the Parameters of Photovoltaic. International Journal of Latest Research in Science & Technology (IJLRST). May–Jun 2014; 3(3): 127–132p. ISSN:2278-5299.

Tao Xu, Luping Yu. How to Design Low Bandgap Polymer for Highly Efficient Organic Solar cells. Mater. Today. Jan–Feb 2014; 17(1).

Chun-Chao Chen, Wei-Hsuan Chang, Ken Yoshimura, et al. An Efficient Triple-Junction Polymer Solar Cell Having a Power Conversion Efficiency Exceeding 11%. Adv. Mater. Aug 27, 2014; 26(32): 5670–5677p.

Adikaari AA Damitha T, Dissanayake DM Nanditha M, Silva S Ravi P. Organic–Inorganic Solar Cells: Recent Developments and Outlook. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. Nov/Dec 2010; 16(6): 1595–1606p.

Greg Moeller, Seth Coe-Sullivan. Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Devices for Displays. Watertown, MA 02472; telephone 617/926-0001.

Catchpole KR, Polman A. Plasmonic Solar Cells. Optics Express. Dec 2008; 16(26): 21793–21800p.

William Shockley, Queisser Hans J. Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells. J. Appl. Phys. 1961; 32: 510p.

Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Shahidul Islam Khan. Modeling Electrical Characteristics of a pn-Junction Silicon Solar Cell Using PSpice. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE). 2012; 3: 133–138p.

Eric Daniel Głowacki, Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci, Tang Ching W. Organic Solar Cells. Solar Energy. Springer Science+Business Media New York. 2013; 97–128p. DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-5806-7.

Tsung-Hsuan Tsai, Shr-Chiang Chiou, Shen-Ming Chen. Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by using Graphene-TiO2 Composites as Photoelectrochemical Working Electrode. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci. 2011; 6: 3333–3343p.

Qiaoqiang Gan, Filbert Bartoli, Zakya Kafafi. Plasmonic Nanostructures Improve Solar Cell Performance. SPIE Newsroom. 29 Aug, 2013.

Swati Ray, Rajesh Das, Barua AK. Performance of Double Junction a-Si Solar Cells by using ZnO:Al Films with Different Electrical and Optical Properties at the n/Metal Interface. Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells. Oct 2002; 74(1–4): 387–392p.

Yastrebova Natalya V. High Efficiency Multijunction Solar Cells: Current Status and Future Potential. Centre for Research in Photonics, University of Ottawa. Apr 2007.

Yang J, Banerjee A, Guha S. Triple-Junction Amorphous Silicon Alloy Solar Cell with 14.6% Initial and 13.0% Stable Conversion Efficiencies. Appl. Phys. Lett. 1997; 70: 2975p.

News Release NR-4514. NREL Demonstrates 45.7% Efficiency for Concentrator Solar Cell. New Design for Ultra-Efficient III–V Multijunction Cell Pushes the Limits of Solar Conversion. Dec 16, 2014.

rätzel M. Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 2006; 14: 429p. Ipadhyaya M, Tiwari AN. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2006; 88: 203103p.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency has been Raised to a Record 15% Thanks to a New Fabrication Process Developed by EPFL Scientists. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130710141850.

Nam-Gyu Park. Perovskite Solar Cells: An Emerging Photovoltaic Technology. Mater. Today. Mar 2015; 18(2): 65–72p.

Eperon Giles E, Stranks Samuel D, Menelaou Christopher, et al. Formamidinium Lead Trihalide: A Broadly Tunable Perovskite for Efficient Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells. Energy Environ. Sci. 2014; 7(3): 982–988p. doi:10.1039/C3EE43822H.

Noel Nakita K, Stranks Samuel D, Abate Antonio, et al. Lead-Free Organic-Inorganic Tin Halide Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications. Energy Environ. Sci. 1 May 2014; 7(9): 3061–3068p. doi:10.1039/C4EE01076K.

Research Cell Efficiency Records. NREL. http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/.

Bailie Colin D, Greyson Christoforo M, Mailoa Jonathan P, et al. Semi-Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells for Tandems with Silicon and CIGS. Energy Environ. Sci. 2015; 3: 956–963p.

NREL Efficiency Charts. www.nrel.gov/ncpv.

Choubey PC, Oudhia A, Dewangan R. A Review: Solar Cell Current Scenario and Future Trends. Recent Res. Sci. Technol. 2012; 4(8): 99–101p. ISSN: 2076-5061.

Chopra KL. Thin Film Solar Cells - (A Status Review). www.kfupm.edu.sa/centers/CENT/.../KFUPM-TFSC-Dec20.pdf.

Noufi R, Zweibel K. High Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin Film Solar Cells: Highlights of the Technologies Challenges. IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-4). Waikoloa, Hawaii. May 7–12, 2006; 317–320p.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.