Natural resource limitations to terawatt-scale solar cells

Tao, Coby S.; Jiang, Jiechao; Tao, Meng

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2011.06.013

Cited by 136 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Each a e-mail: delbos.sebastien@gmail.com PV technology has one or more limiting elements, such as silver for crystalline silicon, indium and gallium for CIGS, Tellurium for CdTe, Ruthenium for dye-sensitized solar cells, silver and indium for thin-film silicon, germanium, gold, indium for III-V PV [7,8]. The chalcogenide technologies are particularly vulnerable to In, Ga, Te supply, which has been noted critical or near critical by the US Department of Energy [9] or the European Commission [10].…”

Section: Sustainability Of Photovoltaic Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Kësterite thin films for photovoltaics : a review

2012

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In the years to come, electricity production is bound to increase, and Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTS) compounds, due to their suitability to thin-film solar cells, could be a means to fulfill the demand. After explaining the reasons of the sudden interest of the CIGS scientific community for CZTS solar cells, this paper reviews recent papers published on the subject of kësterites-based solar cells. After a description of crystallographic and optoelectronic properties, including CZTS crystalline structure, defect formation and metal composition, this review paper focuses on CZTS synthesis processes and device properties. Synthesis strategies, including one-or two-step processes, deposition temperature, binary formation control via atmosphere control and their effect on device properties are discussed.

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Section: Sustainability Of Photovoltaic Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Kësterite thin films for photovoltaics : a review

2012

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“…However, its high production cost and fragile characteristics limit its applicability for flexible electronic devices [6,7]. Also, the total reflection at the glass/ITO interface and the low adhesion to organic substrates lower the display performance of LC devices containing ITO transparent electrodes [8,9]. Many electrode materials, such as organic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [10,11], metallic nanowires [12,13], metal thin films [14], graphene [15,16], and conductive polymers [17,18], have been studied as alternatives to ITO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication of New Liquid Crystal Device Using Layer-by-Layer Thin Film Process

et al. 2018

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Indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrodes are troubled with high cost and poor mechanical stability. In this study, layer-by-layer (LBL)-processed thin films with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibited high transparency and electrical conductivity as a candidate for ITO replacement. The repetitive deposition of polycations and stabilized SWNTs with a negative surfactant exhibits sufficiently linear film growth and high optoelectronic performance to be used as transparent electrodes for vertically aligned (VA) liquid crystal display (LCD) cells. The LC molecules were uniformly aligned on the all of the prepared LBL electrodes. VA LCD cells with SWNT LBL electrodes exhibited voltage-transmittance (V-T) characteristics similar to those with the conventional ITO electrodes. Although the response speeds were slower than the LCD cell with the ITO electrode, as the SWNT layers increased, the display performance was closer to the LCD cells with conventional ITO electrode. This work demonstrated the good optoelectronic performance and alignment compatibility with LC molecules of the SWNT LBL assemblies, which are potential alternatives to ITO films as transparent electrodes for LCDs.

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“…Concerning solar photovoltaics (PV), it has been suggested that high energy input for the production of crystalline silicon solar cells could be a constraint for the growth of this technology, while current thin film technologies could never reach significant production levels due to the use of scarce materials (Tao et al, 2011). Dale and Benson (2013) even claim that the solar PV industry has not yet paid back any net energy to society, partly due to its high relative growth rates, and concludes that both the timing and magnitude of energy inputs and outputs are important factors in determining an energy balance for the solar industry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth curves and sustained commissioning modelling of renewable energy: Investigating resource constraints for wind energy

et al. 2014

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PostprintThis is the accepted version of a paper published in Energy Policy. This paper has been peer-reviewed but does not include the final publisher proof-corrections or journal pagination.Citation for the original published paper (version of record): AbstractSeveral recent studies have proposed fast transitions to energy systems based on renewable energy technology. Many of them dismiss potential physical constraints and issues with natural resource supply, and do not consider the growth rates of the individual technologies needed or how the energy systems are to be sustained over longer time frames. A case study is presented modelling potential growth rates of the wind energy required to reach installed capacities proposed in other studies, taking into account the expected service life of wind turbines. A sustained commissioning model is proposed as a theoretical foundation for analysing reasonable growth patterns for technologies that can be sustained in the future. The annual installation and related resource requirements to reach proposed wind capacity are quantified and it is concluded that these factors should be considered when assessing the feasibility, and even the sustainability, of fast energy transitions. Even a sustained commissioning scenario would require significant resource flows, for the transition as well as for sustaining the system, indefinitely. Recent studies that claim there are no potential natural resource barriers or other physical constraints to fast transitions to renewable energy appear inadequate in ruling out these concerns.

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Natural resource limitations to terawatt-scale solar cells

Cited by 136 publications

References 11 publications

Kësterite thin films for photovoltaics : a review

Kësterite thin films for photovoltaics : a review

Fabrication of New Liquid Crystal Device Using Layer-by-Layer Thin Film Process

Growth curves and sustained commissioning modelling of renewable energy: Investigating resource constraints for wind energy

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