Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 

About: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells is an academic journal published by Elsevier BV. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Solar cell & Thin film. It has an ISSN identifier of 0927-0248. Over the lifetime, 10908 publications have been published receiving 482654 citations. The journal is also known as: Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells.

Fabrication and processing of polymer solar cells: A review of printing and coating techniques

Abstract: Polymer solar cells are reviewed in the context of the processing techniques leading to complete devices. A distinction is made between the film-forming techniques that are used currently such as spincoating, doctor blading and casting and the, from a processing point of view, more desirable film-forming techniques such as slot-die coating, gravure coating, knife-over-edge coating, off-set coating, spray coating and printing techniques such as ink jet printing, pad printing and screen printing. The former are used almost exclusively and are not suited for high-volume production whereas the latter are highly suited, but little explored in the context of polymer solar cells. A further distinction is made between printing and coating when a film is formed. The entire process leading to polymer solar cells is broken down into the individual steps and the available techniques and materials for each step are described with focus on the particular advantages and disadvantages associated with each case.

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%.

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

A review on highly ordered, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays: Fabrication, material properties, and solar energy applications

Abstract: We review the fabrication, properties, and solar energy applications of highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays made by anodic oxidation of titanium in fluoride-based electrolytes. The material architecture has proven to be of great interest for use in water photoelectrolysis, photocatalysis, heterojunction solar cells, and gas sensing. We examine the ability to fabricate nanotube arrays of different shape (cylindrical, tapered), pore size, length, and wall thickness by varying anodization parameters including electrolyte concentration, pH, voltage, and bath temperature, with fabrication and crystallization variables discussed in reference to a nanotube array growth model. We review efforts to lower the band gap of the titania nanotubes by anionic doping. Measured optical properties are compared with computational electromagnetic simulations obtained using finite difference time domain (FDTD). The article concludes by examining various practical applications of the remarkable material architecture, including its use for water photoelectrolysis, and in heterojucntion dye-sensitized solar cells.

Review of photoluminescence performance of nano-sized semiconductor materials and its relationships with photocatalytic activity

Abstract: In this review, the photoluminescence (PL) performance and mechanism of nano-sized semiconductor materials, such as TiO 2 and ZnO, are introduced, together with their attributes and affecting factors. Moreover, the applications of PL spectra in environmental photocatalysis are discussed in detail, viz. the inherent relationships between the PL intensity and photocatalytic activity are revealed on the basis of PL attributes, demonstrating that the PL spectra can reflect some important information such as surface defects and oxygen vacancies, surface states, photo-induced charge carrier separation and recombination processes in nano-sized semiconductor materials. Thus, the PL spectrum can provide a firm foundation in theory for designing and synthesizing new semiconductor photocatalysts with high activity, as well as quickly evaluating the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor samples.