Solar cells are attractive candidates for clean and renewable power; with miniaturization, they might also serve as integrated power sources for nanoelectronic systems. The use of nanostructures or nanostructured materials represents a general approach to reduce both cost and size and to improve efficiency in photovoltaics. Nanoparticles, nanorods and nanowires have been used to improve charge collection efficiency in polymer-blend and dye-sensitized solar cells, to demonstrate carrier multiplication, and to enable low-temperature processing of photovoltaic devices. Moreover, recent theoretical studies have indicated that coaxial nanowire structures could improve carrier collection and overall efficiency with respect to single-crystal bulk semiconductors of the same materials. However, solar cells based on hybrid nanoarchitectures suffer from relatively low efficiencies and poor stabilities. In addition, previous studies have not yet addressed their use as photovoltaic power elements in nanoelectronics. Here we report the realization of p-type/intrinsic/n-type (p-i-n) coaxial silicon nanowire solar cells. Under one solar equivalent (1-sun) illumination, the p-i-n silicon nanowire elements yield a maximum power output of up to 200 pW per nanowire device and an apparent energy conversion efficiency of up to 3.4 per cent, with stable and improved efficiencies achievable at high-flux illuminations. Furthermore, we show that individual and interconnected silicon nanowire photovoltaic elements can serve as robust power sources to drive functional nanoelectronic sensors and logic gates. These coaxial silicon nanowire photovoltaic elements provide a new nanoscale test bed for studies of photoinduced energy/charge transport and artificial photosynthesis, and might find general usage as elements for powering ultralow-power electronics and diverse nanosystems.

http://www.eecs.umich.edu/zhonglab/pub/NW_Solar_Lieber.pdf

Coaxial silicon nanowires as solar cells and nanoelectronic power sources

We have reduced the processing temperature of the bulk absorber layer in CH3NH3PbI3−xClx perovskite solar cells from 500 to <150 °C and achieved power conversion efficiencies up to 12.3%. Remarkably, we find that devices with planar thin-film architecture, where the ambipolar perovskite transports both holes and electrons, convert the absorbed photons into collected charge with close to 100% efficiency.

Low-temperature processed meso-superstructured to thin-film perovskite solar cells

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.

A review of solar photovoltaic technologies

The scattering from metal nanoparticles near their localized plasmon resonance is a promising way of increasing the light absorption in thin-film solar cells. Enhancements in photocurrent have been observed for a wide range of semiconductors and solar cell configurations. We review experimental and theoretical progress that has been made in recent years, describe the basic mechanisms at work, and provide an outlook on future prospects in this area.

https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/10440/1045/1/Catchpole_Plasmonic2008.pdf

Plasmonic solar cells

Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (Version 39)

This paper describes the use, within p–i–n- and n–i–p-type solar cells, of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) thin films (layers), both deposited at low temperatures (200°C) by plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), from a mixture of silane and hydrogen. Optical and electrical properties of the i-layers are described. These properties are linked to the microstructure and hence to the i-layer deposition rate, that in turn, affects throughput in production. The importance of contact and reflection layers in achieving low electrical and optical losses is explained, particularly for the superstrate case. Especially the required properties for the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) need to be well balanced in order to provide, at the same time, for high electrical conductivity (preferably by high electron mobility), low optical absorption and surface texture (for low optical losses and pronounced light trapping). Single-junction amorphous and microcrystalline p–i–n-type solar cells, as fabricated so far, are compared in their key parameters (Jsc, FF, Voc) with the [theoretical] limiting values. Tandem and multijunction cells are introduced; the μc-Si: H/a-Si: H or [micromorph] tandem solar cell concept is explained in detail, and recent results obtained here are listed and commented. Factors governing the mass-production of thin-film silicon modules are determined both by inherent technical reasons, described in detail, and by economic considerations. The cumulative effect of these factors results in distinct efficiency reductions from values of record laboratory cells to statistical averages of production modules. Finally, applications of thin-film silicon PV modules, especially in building-integrated PV (BIPV) are shown. In this context, the energy yields of thin-film silicon modules emerge as a valuable gauge for module performance, and compare very favourably with those of other PV technologies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Thin‐film silicon solar cell technology

http://doc.rero.ch/record/9704/files/Shah_A.V._-_Material_and_solar_cell_research_20080822.pdf

Material and solar cell research in microcrystalline silicon

https://doc.rero.ch/record/9673/files/Fa_S._-_Low_pressure_chemical_vapour_deposition_of_ZnO_20080815.pdf

Low pressure chemical vapour deposition of ZnO layers for thin-film solar cells: temperature-induced morphological changes

Hydrogen incorporation in silicon layers prepared by plasma‐enhanced chemical‐vapor deposition using silane dilution by hydrogen has been studied by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA). The large range of silane dilution investigated can be divided into an amorphous and a microcrystalline zone. These two zones are separated by a narrow transition zone at a dilution level of 7.5%; here, the structure of the material cannot be clearly identified. The films in/near the amorphous/microcrystalline transition zone show a considerably enhanced hydrogen incorporation. Moreover, comparison of IR and ERDA and film stress measurements suggests that these layers contain a substantial amount of molecular hydrogen probably trapped in microvoids. In this particular case the determination of the total H content by IR spectroscopy leads to substantial errors. At silane concentrations below 6%, the hydrogen content decreases sharply and the material becomes progressively microcrystalline...

/pdf/hydrogen-in-amorphous-and-microcrystalline-silicon-films-1t1x2it3gm.pdf

Hydrogen in amorphous and microcrystalline silicon films prepared by hydrogen dilution

https://doc.rero.ch/record/9671/files/Fa_S._-_Rough_ZnO_layers_by_LP-CVD_process_20080814.pdf

Ulrich Kroll

Papers

Thin‐film silicon solar cell technology

Material and solar cell research in microcrystalline silicon

Low pressure chemical vapour deposition of ZnO layers for thin-film solar cells: temperature-induced morphological changes

Hydrogen in amorphous and microcrystalline silicon films prepared by hydrogen dilution

Rough ZnO Layers by LP-CVD Process and their Effect in Improving Performances of Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells