Organic solar cells are promising for technological applications, as they are lightweight and mechanically robust. This study presents flexible organic solar cells that are less than 2 μm thick, have very low specific weight and maintain their photovoltaic performance under repeated mechanical deformation.

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Ultrathin and lightweight organic solar cells with high flexibility

Flexible CIGS, CdTe and a-Si:H based thin film solar cells: A review

Fiber-shaped flexible solar cells

SUMMARY
It is well known that current fossil fuel usage is unsustainable and associated with greenhouse gas production. The amount of the world's primary energy supply provided by renewable energy technologies is urgently required. Therefore, the relevant technologies such as hydrogen fuel, solar cell, biotechnology based on nanotechnology, and the relevant patents for exploiting the future energy for the friendly environment are reviewed. At the same time, it is pointed out that the significantly feasible world's eco-energy for the foreseeable future should not only be realized, but also methods for using the current energy and their by-products more efficiently should be found correspondingly, alongside technologies that will ensure minimal environmental impact. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Green nanotechnology of trends in future energy: a review

Nanostructured silicon single junction thin film solar cells were deposited on commercial red clay roof tiles with engobe surfaces and earthenware wall tiles with glazed surfaces, with a test area of 24 mm2. We studied the influence of the type of substrate tile, back contact, buffer layer and SiOx passivation layer on the optoelectronic performance of the solar cells. Despite the fact that typical micrometre-sized defects on the surfaces of the tiles and the porous nature of the ceramic substrates make deposition of homogeneous thin films on them quite challenging, we have been able to achieve a cell efficiency of 5% and a quantum efficiency of 80% on non-fully optimized cells on commercial tiles. The method is industrially employable utilizing pre-existing plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition technologies. The cost-effectiveness and industrial feasibility of the technique are discussed. Our study shows that photovoltaic tiles can combine energy generation with architectural aesthetics leading to significant implications for advancement in building integrated photovoltaics.

Silicon thin film solar cells on commercial tiles

Fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrate by very high frequency PECVD

The aim of this research is to fabricate high efficiency a-Si/μc-Si tandem solar cell modules on flexible (polymer) superstrates using the Helianthos concept. As a first step we began by depositing the top cell which contains an amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) i-layer of ∼350 nm made by VHF PECVD at 50 MHz in a high vacuum multichamber system called ASTER, with hydrogen to silane gas flow ratio of 1:1. Such amorphous cells on-foil showed an initial active area (0.912 cm2) efficiency of 7.69% (Voc = 0.834 V, FF = 0.71). These cells were light soaked with white light at a controlled temperature of 50 °C. The efficiency degradation was predominantly due to degradation of FF that amounted to only 11% after 1000 h of light soaking. The cell-on-foil data prove that thin film silicon modules of high stability on cheap plastics can be made at a reasonable efficiency within 30 min of deposition time. A minimodule of 8 × 7.5 cm2 area (consisting of 8 cells interconnected in series) with the same single junction a-Si:H p–i–n structure had an initial efficiency of 6.7% (Voc = 6.32 V, FF = 0.65).

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Thin film silicon modules on plastic superstrates

In this letter we report the result of an a-Si:H/nc-Si:H tandem thin film silicon solar mini-module fabricated on plastic foil containing intrinsic silicon layers made by hot-wire CVD (efficiency 7.4%, monolithically series-connected, aperture area 25 cm2). We used the Helianthos cell transfer process. The cells were first deposited on a temporary aluminum foil carrier, which allows the use of the optimal processing temperatures, and then transferred to a plastic foil. This letter reports the characteristics of the flexible solar cells obtained in this manner, and compares the results with those obtained on reference glass substrates. The research focus for implementation of the hot-wire CVD technique for the roll-to-roll process is also discussed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Flexible a-Si:H/nc-Si:H tandem thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrates withi-layers made by hot-wire CVD

Recent advances in very high frequency plasma enhanced CVD process for the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells

In this contribution we report the result of an a-Si/μc-Si tandem thin film silicon solar mini-module deposited on plastic foil containing intrinsic layers made by hot-wire CVD (eff. ≫ 7%, series-connected with aperture area 25 cm2). We used the Helianthos cell transfer process. The cells were first deposited on a temporary aluminum foil carrier, which allows using optimal process temperatures, and then transferred to a plastic foil. The paper reports the characteristics of the flexible solar cells obtained in this manner, and compares the results with those obtained on reference glass substrates. The issues for implementation of the hot-wire CVD technique for the R2R process are also discussed.

Flexible a-Si/μc-Si tandem thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrates with i-layers made with hot-wire CVD using the Helianthos cell transfer process

A. Borreman

Papers

Fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrate by very high frequency PECVD

Thin film silicon modules on plastic superstrates

Flexible a-Si:H/nc-Si:H tandem thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrates withi-layers made by hot-wire CVD

Recent advances in very high frequency plasma enhanced CVD process for the fabrication of thin film silicon solar cells

Flexible a-Si/μc-Si tandem thin film silicon solar cells on plastic substrates with i-layers made with hot-wire CVD using the Helianthos cell transfer process