Large-Scale Transparent Photovoltaics for a Sustainable Energy Future: Review of Inorganic Transparent Photovoltaics

Abstract

Transparent photovoltaics (TPVs) are a crucial energy platform for harvesting solar energy in windows, enabling onsite power generation for widespread applications in buildings, vehicles, displays, sensors, and the Internet of things. TPV devices are fabricated using eco-friendly processing methods and materials, and must perform stably for an adequate societal impact. This review article is focused on the emerging TPV devices made of inorganic materials, including oxides and two-dimensional sulfides. Herein, we briefly review the wide-bandgap inorganic TPVs and their performances. Specifically, the sputtering method is considered for the large-scale and eco-friendly preparation of inorganic heterostructures.

Ti‐Doped ZnO Thin Films‐Based Transparent Photovoltaic for High‐Performance Broadband and Wide‐Field‐of‐View Photocommunication Window

“…Typically, TPV systems absorb strong photon energy for practical electron transitions through a bandgap. [34,35] Tetra valence titanium (Ti 4þ ) can be used as a dopant in ZnO to create intermediate energy states, which makes the device responsive under the UV to the visible region. [33] The ionic radius of Ti 4þ (68 pm) is slightly smaller than that of Zn 2þ (72 pm), allowing Ti to replace the Zn in the ZnO lattice.…”

“…Typically, TPV systems absorb strong photon energy for practical electron transitions through a bandgap. [ 34,35 ]…”

Near ultra-violet absorbers for transparent organic solar cells

“…[4] Such TSCs, involving wide bandgap inorganic materials, are currently limited to a few percent of power conversion efficiencies (PCE) with average visible transmittance (AVT) of maximum 40-50%. [5] In this context, organic semiconducting materials appear as highly appealing candidates towards semi-transparent or fully transparent PV devices. A first route towards transparency is to use them as ultra thin films.…”