Renewable energy has become an auspicious alternative to fossil fuel resources due to its sustainability and renewability. In this respect, Photovoltaics (PV) technology is one of the essential technologies. Today, more than 90 % of the global PV market relies on crystalline silicon (c-Si)-based solar cells. This article reviews the dynamic field of Si-based solar cells from high-cost crystalline to low-cost cells and investigates how to preserve high possible efficiencies while decreasing the cost. First, we discuss the various types of c-Si solar cells with different device architectures and report recent developments. Next, thin-film solar cells with their recent advancements are given. Then, Si nanowires solar cells and their recent results are discussed. Finally, we present the most encouraging tendencies in achieving low-cost solar cells utilizing cheap materials like heavily doped silicon wafers.
Alumina nanoparticles with different average particle sizes were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation of Al plates in ethanol, followed by laser irradiation at different times. Their optical and structural properties were investigated by different techniques. The experimental work showed that as the time of post-laser irradiation increased, the average particles’ size of alumina decreased. The decrease in the particle size is detected by using x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy technique (UV–VIS) and characterized by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The LIBS technique was utilized as a diagnostic tool with XRD and UV–VIS for determining the nanoparticles’ size. Laser-induced plasma parameters such as electron density and electron temperature were determined. A relationship has been established between the electron temperature and the nanoparticles’ size. The results reflect the significance of correcting the spectral intensity of the emitted line for the effect of self-absorption in the LIBS experiment.
Magnesium metallic nanoparticles have been synthesized using the pulsed laser ablation in liquid media technique (PLAL) in the range of 20–30 nm by varying the laser ablation time. During the laser ablation process, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique is used to investigate the physicochemical properties as laser-induced Mg plasma in terms of spectral line intensities and their plasma parameters (
n
e
and
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e
). The X-ray diffraction technique and UV-visible technique show that the produced samples have a crystalline structure, and as the laser ablation time increases, the value of the absorption peak shifts to lower wavelengths and the average particle decreases, respectively. The use of the PLAL technique shows the capability to produce a metallic structure based on purging the solution by molecular nitrogen. The use of the LIBS technique shows a good and fast tool for detecting their particle sizes and the differentiation between the metallic form and its oxide structure.
The current study introduces a two-terminal (2T) thin-film tandem solar cell (TSC) comprised of a polymer-based top sub cell and a thin crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom sub cell. The photoactive layer of the top sub cell is a blend of PDTBTBz-2F as a polymer donor and PC71BM as a fullerene acceptor. Initially, a calibration of the two sub cells is carried out against experimental studies, providing a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.88% for the top sub cell and 14.26% for the bottom sub cell. Upon incorporating both sub cells in a polymer/Si TSC, the resulting cell shows a PCE of 20.45% and a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 13.40 mA/cm2. Then, we optimize the tandem performance by controlling the valence band offset (VBO) of the polymer top cell. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of varying the top absorber defect density and the thicknesses of both absorber layers in an attempt to obtain the maximum obtainable PCE. After optimizing the tandem cell and at the designed current matching condition, the Jsc and PCE of the tandem cell are improved to 16.43 mA/cm2 and 28.41%, respectively. Based on this TCAD simulation study, a tandem configuration established from an all thin-film model may be feasible for wearable electronics applications. All simulations utilize the Silvaco Atlas package where the cells are subjected to standard one Sun (AM1.5G, 1000 W/m2) spectrum illumination.
Barium di-silicide (BaSi2) material has attracted noteworthy interest in photovoltaics, thanks to its stability, abundant nature, and excellent production feasibility. In this current work, a two-terminal (2T) monolithic all-BaSi2 tandem solar cell is proposed and explored through extensive TCAD simulation. A BaSi2 bottom sub-cell with a bandgap of 1.3 eV, and a Ba(CxSi1−x)2 top sub-cell with a tunable bandgap are employed in the design. It was found that a bandgap of 1.8 eV, which corresponds to x = 0.78, is the optimum choice to obtain the maximum initial power conversion efficiency (η) of 30%. Then, the tandem performance is optimized by investigating the impact of doping and the thickness of both absorber layers. Further, the current matching point is monitored whilst altering the thickness of the top cell resulting in η = 32.83%%, and a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 16.47 mA/cm2. Additionally, we have explored the influence of the defect density in the absorbers, and the work function of contacts on the performance parameters. All TCAD simulations are accomplished using the Silvaco Atlas package under AM1.5G illumination.
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