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Author

Subhendu Guha

Bio: Subhendu Guha is an academic researcher from National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nanocrystalline silicon & Amorphous silicon. The author has an hindex of 35, co-authored 218 publications receiving 4113 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the microstructural properties of amorphous silicon (a-Si) alloy solar cells were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy.
Abstract: We investigate why high levels of hydrogen dilution of the process gas lead to enhanced light soaking stability of amorphous silicon (a-Si) alloy solar cells by studying the microstructural properties of the material using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The TEM results show that a-Si alloy (with or without hydrogen dilution) is a heterogeneous mixture of amorphous network and linear-like objects that show evidence of order along their length. The volume fraction of these ordered regions increases with increasing hydrogen dilution.

246 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, a dual-function nano-structured hydrogenated silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) layer was proposed for multi-junction solar cells, which achieved a significant gain in the middle cell current density of ∼1.0 mA/cm2.
Abstract: We present our development of n-type nano-structured hydrogenated silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) as a dual-function layer in multi-junction solar cells. We optimized nc-SiOx:H and attained a conductivity suitable for a doped layer and optical property suitable for an inter-reflection layer. We tested the effectiveness of the dual-function nc-SiOx:H layer by replacing the normal n layer between the middle and the bottom cells in an a-Si:H/a-SiGe:H/nc-Si:H triple-junction structure. A significant gain in the middle cell current density of ∼1.0 mA/cm2 is achieved. We further optimized the component cells and the triple-junction structures and attained an initial active-area cell efficiency of 16.3%.

234 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, high-hydrogen-diluted films of hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) 0.5-2.5 μm in thickness and optimized for solar cell efficiency and stability, are found to be partially microcrystalline (μc) if deposited directly on stainless steel (SS) substrates but are fully amomorphous if a thin n layer of a-Si or μc-Si was first deposited on the SS.
Abstract: High-hydrogen-diluted films of hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) 0.5 μm in thickness and optimized for solar cell efficiency and stability, are found to be partially microcrystalline (μc) if deposited directly on stainless steel (SS) substrates but are fully amorphous if a thin n layer of a-Si:H or μc-Si:H is first deposited on the SS. In these latter cases, partial microcrystallinity develops as the films are grown thicker (1.5–2.5 μm) and this is accompanied by sharp drops in solar cell open circuit voltage. For the fully amorphous films, x-ray diffraction (XRD) shows improved medium-range order compared to undiluted films and this correlates with better light stability. Capacitance profiling shows a decrease in deep defect density as growth proceeds further from the substrate, consistent with the XRD evidence of improved order for thicker films.

172 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an amorphous silicon alloy based solar cell with a novel structure in which the optical gap of the intrinsic layer changes in a substantial portion of the bulk was developed.
Abstract: We have developed an amorphous silicon alloy based solar cell with a novel structure in which the optical gap of the intrinsic layer changes in a substantial portion of the bulk. Computer simulation studies show that for a given short circuit current, it is possible with this structure to obtain higher open circuit voltage and fill factor than in a conventional cell design. Experimental cell structures have been made and confirm the theoretical prediction. The new cell design shows a considerable improvement in efficiency. Incorporation of this structure in the bottom cell of a triple device has resulted in the achievement of 13.7% efficiency under global AM1.5 illumination.

160 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of texture in Ag/ZnO back reflectors (BRs) on the performance of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cells was studied.
Abstract: We have studied the effect of texture in Ag/ZnO back reflectors (BRs) on the performance of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cells. While a larger texture provides superior light trapping, it also deteriorates the nc-Si:H quality. We have used total and diffused reflection and atomic force microscopy to evaluate the BR texture. A BR with textured Ag and thin ZnO layers has been found to give the best cell performance. Using the optimized BR, we have achieved an initial active-area efficiency of 10.2% in a nc-Si:H single-junction cell and a stable total-area efficiency of 12.5% in a hydrogenated amorphous silicon/nc-Si:H/nc-Si:H triple-junction cell.

116 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: New trends in power electronics for the integration of wind and photovoltaic (PV) power generators are presented and a review of the appropriate storage-system technology used for the Integration of intermittent renewable energy sources is introduced.
Abstract: The use of distributed energy resources is increasingly being pursued as a supplement and an alternative to large conventional central power stations. The specification of a power-electronic interface is subject to requirements related not only to the renewable energy source itself but also to its effects on the power-system operation, especially where the intermittent energy source constitutes a significant part of the total system capacity. In this paper, new trends in power electronics for the integration of wind and photovoltaic (PV) power generators are presented. A review of the appropriate storage-system technology used for the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources is also introduced. Discussions about common and future trends in renewable energy systems based on reliability and maturity of each technology are presented

3,799 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of recent developments in the use of ZnO nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) applications is presented.
Abstract: This Review focuses on recent developments in the use of ZnO nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) applications. It is shown that carefully designed and fabricated nanostructured ZnO films are advantageous for use as a DSC photoelectrode as they offer larger surface areas than bulk film material, direct electron pathways, or effective light-scattering centers, and, when combined with TiO2, produce a core–shell structure that reduces the combination rate. The limitations of ZnO-based DSCs are also discussed and several possible methods are proposed so as to expand the knowledge of ZnO to TiO2, motivating further improvement in the power-conversion efficiency of DSCs.

1,627 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Zheng et al. as discussed by the authors showed that quaternary ammonium halides can effectively passivate ionic defects in several different types of hybrid perovskite with their negative-and positive-charged components.
Abstract: The ionic defects at the surfaces and grain boundaries of organic–inorganic halide perovskite films are detrimental to both the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, we show that quaternary ammonium halides can effectively passivate ionic defects in several different types of hybrid perovskite with their negative- and positive-charged components. The efficient defect passivation reduces the charge trap density and elongates the carrier recombination lifetime, which is supported by density-function-theory calculation. The defect passivation reduces the open-circuit-voltage deficit of the p–i–n-structured device to 0.39 V, and boosts the efficiency to a certified value of 20.59 ± 0.45%. Moreover, the defect healing also significantly enhances the stability of films in ambient conditions. Our findings provide an avenue for defect passivation to further improve both the efficiency and stability of solar cells. Losses in solar cells can be caused by material defects in the bulk or at interfaces. Here, Zheng et al. use quaternary ammonium halides to passivate various perovskite absorbers and prepare solar cells with certified efficiency above 20%, suggesting that both anionic and cation defects are affected.

1,536 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the photovoltaic technology, its power generating capability, the different existing light absorbing materials used, its environmental aspect coupled with a variety of its applications have been discussed.
Abstract: Global environmental concerns and the escalating demand for energy, coupled with steady progress in renewable energy technologies, are opening up new opportunities for utilization of renewable energy resources. Solar energy is the most abundant, inexhaustible and clean of all the renewable energy resources till date. The power from sun intercepted by the earth is about 1.8 × 1011 MW, which is many times larger than the present rate of all the energy consumption. Photovoltaic technology is one of the finest ways to harness the solar power. This paper reviews the photovoltaic technology, its power generating capability, the different existing light absorbing materials used, its environmental aspect coupled with a variety of its applications. The different existing performance and reliability evaluation models, sizing and control, grid connection and distribution have also been discussed. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

1,524 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The developments in stability/degradation of OPVs in the last five years are reviewed, such as inverted device structures of the bulk heterojunction geometry device, which allows for more stable metal electrodes, the choice of more photostable active materials, the introduction of interfacial layers, and roll-to-roll fabrication.
Abstract: Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) evolve in an exponential manner in the two key areas of efficiency and stability. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) has in the last decade been increased by almost a factor of ten approaching 10%. A main concern has been the stability that was previously measured in minutes, but can now, in favorable circumstances, exceed many thousands of hours. This astonishing achievement is the subject of this article, which reviews the developments in stability/degradation of OPVs in the last five years. This progress has been gained by several developments, such as inverted device structures of the bulk heterojunction geometry device, which allows for more stable metal electrodes, the choice of more photostable active materials, the introduction of interfacial layers, and roll-to-roll fabrication, which promises fast and cheap production methods while creating its own challenges in terms of stability.

1,258 citations