Combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene or conducting polymers with conventional silicon wafers leads to promising solar cell architectures with rapidly improved power conversion efficiency until recently. Here, we report CNT-Si junction solar cells with efficiencies reaching 15% by coating a TiO₂ antireflection layer and doping CNTs with oxidative chemicals, under air mass (AM 1.5) illumination at a calibrated intensity of 100 mW/cm² and an active device area of 15 mm². The TiO₂ layer significantly inhibits light reflectance from the Si surface, resulting in much enhanced short-circuit current (by 30%) and external quantum efficiency. Our method is simple, well-controlled, and very effective in boosting the performance of CNT-Si solar cells.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00884 | DOI Listing |
ACS Appl Energy Mater
December 2024
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantocks Close, BS8 1TS Bristol, U.K.
Rationalizing the role of chemical interactions in the precursor solutions on the structure, morphology, and performance of thin-film CuZnSn(S,Se) (CZTSSe) is key for the development of bifacial and other photovoltaic (PV) device architectures designed by scalable solution-based methods. In this study, we uncover the impact of dimethylformamide (DMF) and isopropanol (IPA) solvent mixtures on cation complexation and rheology of the precursor solution, as well as the corresponding morphology, composition, and PV performance of CZTSSe thin-film grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). We find that increasing the proportion of IPA leads to a nonlinear increase in dynamic viscosity due to the strong repulsion between DMF and IPA, which is characterized by an interaction cohesion parameter of 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
In this study, we investigate the electrodeposition of various metals on silicon. Mn, Co, Ni, Ru, Pd, Rh, and Pt were identified as promising candidates for controlled electrodeposition onto silicon. Electrochemical evaluations employing cyclic voltammetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) associated with energy-dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques confirmed the deposition of Pd, Rh, and Pt as nanoparticles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
The hot carrier multi-junction solar cell (HCMJC) is an advanced-concept solar cell with a theoretical efficiency greater than 65%. It combines the advantages of hot carrier solar cells and multi-junction solar cells with higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). The thermalization coefficient () has been shown to slow down by an order of magnitude in low-dimensional structures, which will significantly improve PCE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Energy generation and storage are critical challenges for developing economies due to rising populations and limited access to clean energy resources. Fossil fuels, commonly used for energy production, are costly and contribute to environmental pollution through greenhouse gas emissions. Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their stability, low cost, and high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to other third-generation solar cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
December 2024
Division of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences and Optical Science Center for Applied Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE 19901, USA.
This study offers a comprehensive summary of the current states as well as potential future directions of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), particularly tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), the most readily accessible TCO on the market. Solar cells, flat panel displays (FPDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), antireflection (AR) coatings for airbus windows, photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices, transparent p-n junction diodes, etc. are a few of the best uses for this material.
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