Economic viability of thin-film tandem solar modules in the United States

Sofia, Sarah E.; Mailoa, Jonathan P.; Weiss, Dirk N.; Stanbery, B.J.; Buonassisi, Tonio; Peters, Ian Marius

doi:10.1038/s41560-018-0126-z

Cited by 71 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Predicted solar module manufacturing cost versus the scale of production (m2/year) for multiple cell types and manufacturing processes[40]-[52]. Also indicated by the shaded region is the expected volume and maximum price point for the indoor PV market in 2018 and 2023 respectively (the maximum volume and price are found by assuming the typical module size in the market will be 1-20 cm2 and using the 2.4 million and 60 million units sold and 0.06 and 0.014 $/unit prices given by BCC Research for 2018 and 2023 respectively).…”

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confidence: 99%

Technology and Market Perspective for Indoor Photovoltaic Cells

et al. 2019

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Indoor photovoltaic cells have the potential to power the Internet of Things ecosystem, including distributed and remote sensors, actuators, and communications devices. As the power required to operate these devices continues to decrease, the type and number of nodes that can now be persistently powered by indoor photovoltaic cells is rapidly growing. This will drive significant growth in the demand for indoor photovoltaics, creating a large alternative market for existing and novel photovoltaic technologies. With the re-emergence of interest in indoor photovoltaic cells, we provide an overview of this burgeoning field focusing on the technical challenges that remain to create energy autonomous sensors at viable price points, and the commercial challenges to be overcome for individual photovoltaic technologies to dominate this market. I. INTRODUCTION TO INDOOR PHOTOVOLTAICS The early years of solar-power electronic devices saw photovoltaic (PV) cells used in extremely low power but relatively expensive consumer devices, where their cost could easily be absorbed. For example, the designers of a smartwatch that sold for ~$100 could afford to incorporate a cell costing a few dollars. Figure 1 outlines how, as the number and types of low-power electronic devices have expanded over the years, their costs have reduced. At the same time, the cost of PV cells has also been reducing, and the performance increasing, so that now we can sensibly power a range of electronic devices including wireless sensors, RFID tags or Bluetooth Beacons. A significant portion of these new devices are part of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem that promises large networks of connected devices collecting the Big Data upon which our medical, manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy industries will be monitored and optimized. Billions of wireless sensors are expected to be installed over the coming decade, with almost half to be located inside buildings [1]. Currently, the use of batteries to power these devices places significant constraints on their power consumption, where the range and frequency Technology and market perspective for indoor photovoltaic cells

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Technology and Market Perspective for Indoor Photovoltaic Cells

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“…Compared to the alternative four-terminal (4-T) configuration, the main advantages associated with the 2-T architecture are lower parasitic absorption losses (as there are fewer contacts), leaner processing, the overall device robustness, easier wiring on the module level and lower balance of systems cost. 15,16 For optimal tandem performance, from an optical point of view, all photons with energies above the lowest subcell bandgap should be converted into electron-hole pairs, without incurring parasitic absorption. Moreover, to satisfy current matching in 2-T tandems, equal amounts of electrons and holes should be collected by each subcell at its respective contact interfaces, particularly under MPP conditions, which, as stated, is possible by optical device engineering.…”

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Recombination junctions for efficient monolithic perovskite-based tandem solar cells: physical principles, properties, processing and prospects

et al. 2020

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“…[1] For example, the controllable energy levels of QDs have enabled a new route to fabricate solar cells that absorb from the ultraviolet to the infrared range, which can make high-efficiency tandem solar cells or transparent PVs feasible. [2][3][4][5] Moreover, QD synthesis technologies concurrently with QD-sensitive solar cells, however, QD thinfilm solar cells are less efficient because of the poor conductivity of QD film at the time. [14] The efficiency of the devices began to increase after advances in the synthesis and surface chemistry of QDs, along with the development of new device structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 1 ] For example, the controllable energy levels of QDs have enabled a new route to fabricate solar cells that absorb from the ultraviolet to the infrared range, which can make high‐efficiency tandem solar cells or transparent PVs feasible. [ 2–5 ] Moreover, QD synthesis technologies enable the derivation of new materials with a tailored bandgap for nontoxic solar cell. [ 6,7 ] Meanwhile, QDs are the most potent materials that can overcome the Shockley–Queisser (S‐Q) limit, the p‐n junction limit of conventional solar cells, with a single material.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design Strategy of Quantum Dot Thin‐Film Solar Cells

Kim

Lim

Yun

et al. 2020

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Quantum dots (QDs) are emerging photovoltaic materials that display exclusive characteristics that can be adjusted through modification of their size and surface chemistry. However, designing a QD‐based optoelectronic device requires specialized approaches compared with designing conventional bulk‐based solar cells. In this paper, design considerations for QD thin‐film solar cells are introduced from two different viewpoints: optics and electrics. The confined energy level of QDs contributes to the adjustment of their band alignment, enabling their absorption characteristics to be adapted to a specific device purpose. However, the materials selected for this energy adjustment can increase the light loss induced by interface reflection. Thus, management of the light path is important for optical QD solar cell design, whereas surface modification is a crucial issue for the electrical design of QD solar cells. QD thin‐film solar cell architectures are fabricated as a heterojunction today, and ligand exchange provides suitable doping states and enhanced carrier transfer for the junction. Lastly, the stability issues and methods on QD thin‐film solar cells are surveyed. Through these strategies, a QD solar cell study can provide valuable insights for future‐oriented solar cell technology.

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Economic viability of thin-film tandem solar modules in the United States

Cited by 71 publications

References 32 publications

Technology and Market Perspective for Indoor Photovoltaic Cells

Technology and Market Perspective for Indoor Photovoltaic Cells

Recombination junctions for efficient monolithic perovskite-based tandem solar cells: physical principles, properties, processing and prospects

Design Strategy of Quantum Dot Thin‐Film Solar Cells

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