K. L. Chopra

Bio: K. L. Chopra is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. The author has contributed to research in topics: Thin film & Amorphous solid. The author has an hindex of 46, co-authored 347 publications receiving 15493 citations. Previous affiliations of K. L. Chopra include University of British Columbia & Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Transparent conductors—A status review

Abstract: Non-stoichiometric and doped films of oxides of tin, indium, cadmium, zinc and their various alloys, deposited by numerous techniques, exhibit high transmittance in the visible spectral region, high reflectance in the IR region and nearly metallic conductivity. The electrical as well as the optical properties of these unusual materials can be tailored by controlling the deposition parameters. These transparent conductors have found major applications in a vast number of active and passive electronic and opto-electronic devices ranging from aircraft window heaters to charge-coupled imaging devices. In this status review we present a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the deposition techniques, electro-optical properties, solid state physics of the electron transport and optical effects and some applications of these transparent conductors.

Thin-film solar cells: an overview

Abstract: Thin film solar cells (TFSC) are a promising approach for terrestrial and space photovoltaics and offer a wide variety of choices in terms of the device design and fabrication. A variety of substrates (flexible or rigid, metal or insulator) can be used for deposition of different layers (contact, buffer, absorber, reflector, etc.) using different techniques (PVD, CVD, ECD, plasma-based, hybrid, etc.). Such versatility allows tailoring and engineering of the layers in order to improve device performance. For large-area devices required for realistic applications, thin-film device fabrication becomes complex and requires proper control over the entire process sequence. Proper understanding of thin-film deposition processes can help in achieving high-efficiency devices over large areas, as has been demonstrated commercially for different cells. Research and development in new, exotic and simple materials and devices, and innovative, but simple manufacturing processes need to be pursued in a focussed manner. Which cell(s) and which technologies will ultimately succeed commercially continue to be anybody's guess, but it would surely be determined by the simplicity of manufacturability and the cost per reliable watt. Cheap and moderately efficient TFSC are expected to receive a due commercial place under the sun.

Thin Film Solar Cells

Abstract: Why Thin Film Solar Cells?- Basic Physical Processes in Solar Cell Materials- Photovoltaic Behavior of Junctions- Photovoltaic Measurements, Junction Analysis, and Material Characterization- Thin Film Deposition Techniques- Properties of Thin Films for Solar Cells- Cu2S Based Solar Cells- Polycrystalline Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells- Emerging Solar Cells- Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells- Photoelectrochemical Cells- Novel Concepts in Design of High-Efficiency Solar Cells

Effect of hydrogen plasma treatment on transparent conducting oxides

Abstract: The effect of hydrogen plasma treatment on indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO), and indium‐doped zinc oxide (IZO) films has been studied. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that ITO and FTO surfaces get reduced to yield elemental indium and tin, respectively. Annealing of the plasma treated films in air leads to re‐oxidation of the reduced surface and the electro‐optical properties are recovered. In contrast, IZO films are not reduced by plasma treatment and show no changes in the electrical and optical properties. The surface of plasma treated IZO films shows a higher binding energy O(1s) peak probably due to OH or OH...O species which appear to form a protective layer against plasma degradation.

Efficient planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells by vapour deposition

Abstract: Many different photovoltaic technologies are being developed for large-scale solar energy conversion. The wafer-based first-generation photovoltaic devices have been followed by thin-film solid semiconductor absorber layers sandwiched between two charge-selective contacts and nanostructured (or mesostructured) solar cells that rely on a distributed heterojunction to generate charge and to transport positive and negative charges in spatially separated phases. Although many materials have been used in nanostructured devices, the goal of attaining high-efficiency thin-film solar cells in such a way has yet to be achieved. Organometal halide perovskites have recently emerged as a promising material for high-efficiency nanostructured devices. Here we show that nanostructuring is not necessary to achieve high efficiencies with this material: a simple planar heterojunction solar cell incorporating vapour-deposited perovskite as the absorbing layer can have solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiencies of over 15 per cent (as measured under simulated full sunlight). This demonstrates that perovskite absorbers can function at the highest efficiencies in simplified device architectures, without the need for complex nanostructures.

Physical properties of ZnO:F obtained from a fresh and aged solution of zinc acetate and zinc acetylacetonate

Abstract: Fluorine-doped zinc oxide thin films, ZnO:F, were deposited by the spray pyrolysis technique on sodocalcic glass substrates. Two different zinc precursors were used separately, namely, zinc acetate and zinc pentanedionate. The effect of the zinc precursor type, the aging of the starting solution, the substrate temperature and a vacuum-annealing treatment on the electrical, morphological, structural and optical properties was studied, in order to obtain conductive and transparent ZnO:F thin films. The resistivity values of ZnO:F thin films deposited from aged solutions were lower than those films obtained from fresh solutions. The lowest resistivity values of as-grown films deposited at 500 °C, using a two-day aged starting solution of zinc acetate and zinc pentanedionate, were 1.4×10 −2 and 1.8×10 −2 Ω cm, respectively. After a vacuum annealing treatment performed at 400 °C for 30 min a decrease in the resistivity was obtained, reaching a minimum value of 6.5×10 −3 Ω cm for films deposited from an aged solution of zinc acetate. The films were polycrystalline, with a (0 0 2) preferential growth orientation in all the cases. Micrographs obtained by SEM show a uniform surface covers by rounded grains. No evident change in the surface morphology was observed with the different precursors used. The transmittance of films in the visible region was higher than 80%.

Memristive switching mechanism for metal/oxide/metal nanodevices.

Abstract: Nanoscale metal/oxide/metal switches have the potential to transform the market for nonvolatile memory and could lead to novel forms of computing. However, progress has been delayed by difficulties in understanding and controlling the coupled electronic and ionic phenomena that dominate the behaviour of nanoscale oxide devices. An analytic theory of the ‘memristor’ (memory-resistor) was first developed from fundamental symmetry arguments in 1971, and we recently showed that memristor behaviour can naturally explain such coupled electron–ion dynamics. Here we provide experimental evidence to support this general model of memristive electrical switching in oxide systems. We have built micro- and nanoscale TiO2 junction devices with platinum electrodes that exhibit fast bipolar nonvolatile switching. We demonstrate that switching involves changes to the electronic barrier at the Pt/TiO2 interface due to the drift of positively charged oxygen vacancies under an applied electric field. Vacancy drift towards the interface creates conducting channels that shunt, or short-circuit, the electronic barrier to switch ON. The drift of vacancies away from the interface annilihilates such channels, recovering the electronic barrier to switch OFF. Using this model we have built TiO2 crosspoints with engineered oxygen vacancy profiles that predictively control the switching polarity and conductance. Nanoscale metal/oxide/metal devices that are capable of fast non-volatile switching have been built from platinum and titanium dioxide. The devices could have applications in ultrahigh density memory cells and novel forms of computing.

Transparent conductors—A status review

Abstract: Non-stoichiometric and doped films of oxides of tin, indium, cadmium, zinc and their various alloys, deposited by numerous techniques, exhibit high transmittance in the visible spectral region, high reflectance in the IR region and nearly metallic conductivity. The electrical as well as the optical properties of these unusual materials can be tailored by controlling the deposition parameters. These transparent conductors have found major applications in a vast number of active and passive electronic and opto-electronic devices ranging from aircraft window heaters to charge-coupled imaging devices. In this status review we present a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the deposition techniques, electro-optical properties, solid state physics of the electron transport and optical effects and some applications of these transparent conductors.

Stability/degradation of polymer solar cells

Abstract: Polymer and organic solar cells degrade during illumination and in the dark This is in contrast to photovoltaics based on inorganic semiconductors such as silicon Long operational lifetimes of solar cell devices are required in real-life application and the understanding and alleviation of the degradation phenomena are a prerequisite for successful application of this new and promising technology In this review, the current understanding of stability/degradation in organic and polymer solar cell devices is presented and the methods for studying and elucidating degradation are discussed Methods for enhancing the stability through the choice of better active materials, encapsulation, application of getter materials and UV-filters are also discussed