Investigating the Tradeoff Between Transparency and Efficiency in Semitransparent Bifacial Mesosuperstructured Solar Cells for Millimeter-Scale Applications

Abstract

Thanks to recent advancements in nanofabrication and 2 3D packaging, typical Internet of Things (IoT) devices can now be 3 wirelessly controlled using millimeter scale sensors known as 4 Internet of Tiny Things (IoT²) devices. Since these low power devices 5 may be exposed to low and indirect solar irradiation, we demonstrate 6 a novel meso-superstructured solar cell (MSSC) that allows low flux 7 light to be harvested from both its top and bottom sides. Our cell is 8 based on either a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) or a perovskite 9 solar cell (PSC). The active layer in the proposed MSSCs was tuned 10 to allow semi-transparent behavior. Moreover, we developed an 11 experimentally validated model that enables optimization of the 12 active layer thickness for different semi-transparent MSSC 13 applications. In MSSCs, such optimization is necessary to balance 14 the trade-off between transparency and efficiency for various active 15 layer thicknesses. Fabricated DSSCs and PSCs cells were used to 16 validate the simulation results. The fabricated DSSC achieved a 17 harvesting ratio of 1:10 with a conversion efficiency of around 2% at 18 one Sun. We demonstrate that the optimum thickness of the 19 mesoporous TiO2 active layer in DSSCs was 800 nm, enabling a 20 maximum power density of 7 mW/cm 2 .

Optoelectronic and Morphological Surface Resistance Evaluation of Laser-Induced Graphene Counter Electrodes for Potential Applications in Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

“…In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the fabricated LIG electrode in a complete perovskite solar cell, we constructed a perovskite solar cell using cesium lead chloride (CsPbCl 3 ) as the active material. , The proposed asymmetrical cell was created by combining an LIG sample as the counter electrode with an FTO-coated glass as the front electrode; FTO measures 50 mm × 50 mm × 2.2 mm with a surface resistivity of approximately 7 Ω/sq, obtained commercially from Sigma-Aldrich (TEC 7, FTO glass, reference number: 735140) (see Figure ). The front electrode was coated with mesoporous TiO 2 (mp-TiO 2 ) through screen printing, following the procedure outlined in refs and − , and then a layer of CsPbCl 3 was spin-coated̀. , Additionally, NiO, acting as the HTL, was applied as a thin film on the counter electrode using a spin coater as detailed in ref . Subsequently, the two electrodes were sealed together using a sealing machine.…”

“…These materials are favored due to their excellent electrical conductivity and stability in the perovskite solar cell configuration. Alternatively, prior efforts have advocated for the production of a symmetric solar cell, employing FTO-coated glass for both the front and counter electrodes. − ,− While these semitransparent cells find common application in photovoltaic window technology, they are notably associated with high costs. There is ongoing research to develop alternative, cost-effective, and abundant materials for counter electrodes in perovskite solar cells, such as carbon-based materials, − conducting polymers, and various metal oxides, which could offer comparable performance while addressing the cost and sustainability concerns associated with silver, aluminum, and gold.…”

Perovskites informatics: Studying the impact of thicknesses, doping, and defects on the perovskite solar cell efficiency using a machine learning algorithm

“…This study uses mesoporous titanium dioxide (mp-TiO 2 ) and nickel oxide (NiO) as ETL and HTL, respectively, see Figure 1. The mp-TiO 2 layer was prepared as reported in our previous work in Reference [38][39][40][41]. We adopted the recipe in Reference 42 for the NiO HTL.…”

“…The ML model is seeded with a numerical simulation result obtained from SCAPS software, along with a dataset extracted from experimental work and our previous work in Reference 41, with other previous attempts in References 2,4,51–56. A dataset of inputs/output matrix is applied as a vital step in a ML model, with a scalable, dynamic range from 56 000 to 1 512 000 points.…”

Transparent PEDOT counter electrodes for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells using a cobalt complex mediator

“…Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for the massive conversion of outdoor sunlight to electrical energy and/or powering the Internet of Things (IoTs) by collecting indoor artificial light. 1,2 Board applications of DSCs are linked to its easy fabrication, high efficiency, and low toxicity. The commercialization of DSC-based photovoltaic (PV) technologies relies on a continuous decrease in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).…”