Photovoltaic Technology: The Case for Thin-Film Solar Cells

Shah, A.; Torres, P.; Tscharner, R.; Wyrsch, Nicolas; Keppner, H.

doi:10.1126/science.285.5428.692

Cited by 1,135 publications

(606 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This trend is already apparent from 1975 to the present. The past two decades have seen a sustained price reduction of 7.5%/yr during which the average worldwide production of modules increased by 18%/yr [12]. In order to take advantages of economy of scale and to directly compete with fossil fuel as an energy source, it is generally agreed that 100 MWp PV plants must be constructed [29,35,36].…”

Section: Economic Viabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fortunately, advances in science and technology have provided us with several alternative means of producing energy on a sustainable level, such as wind, geothermal, biomass, and solar [10]. Of these means, solar (photovoltaic technology) provides the most widely adaptable applications and converts sunlight directly into electrical energy with the highest efficiencies [11,12]. This paper will demonstrate between April 1999 and March 2000 over 17,000 systems were applied for [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photovoltaics — a path to sustainable futures

Pearce

2002

Futures

262

155

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As both population and energy use per capita increase, modern society is approaching physical limits to its continued fossil fuel consumption. The immediate limits are set by the planet's ability to adapt to a changing atmospheric chemical composition, not the availability of resources. In order for a future society to be sustainable while operating at or above our current standard of living a shift away from carbon based energy sources must occur. An overview of the current state of active solar (photovoltaic) energy technology is provided here to outline a partial solution for the environmental problems caused by accelerating global energy expenditure. The technical, social, and economic benefits and limitations of photovoltaic technologies to provide electricity in both off-grid and on-grid applications is critically analyzed in the context of this shift in energy sources. It is shown that photovoltaic electrical production is a technologically feasible, economically viable, environmentally benign, sustainable, and socially equitable solution to society's future energy requirements. Keywords IntroductionAlthough global fossil fuel resources have not yet been exhausted, the negative social, health, and environmental impacts of our current unsustainable patterns of energy use are apparent [1,2,3,4,5]. In the future, large-scale alternative methods of producing the vast quantities of energy needed to sustain and enhance our standard of living are necessary [6,7,8]. As Peter Harper proposed, the problem of contemporary society can be stated succinctly: "We need to get (probably) 11 billion people through the transition complex to 'Sustainia', the sustainable state, before irreversible damage is done" [9]. If current trends continue, future society will require increased electrical energy. This energy must be produced using sustainable technologies in order for society to continue to prosper indefinitely. Fortunately, advances in science and technology have provided us with several alternative means of producing energy on a sustainable level, such as wind, geothermal, biomass, and solar [10]. Of these means, solar (photovoltaic technology) provides the most widely adaptable applications and converts sunlight directly into electrical energy with the highest efficiencies [11,12]. This paper will demonstrate

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Section: Economic Viabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photovoltaics — a path to sustainable futures

Pearce

2002

Futures

262

155

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Amongst the alternative energy sources, solar energy represents one of the most sustainable, environmentally acceptable and technologically promising renewable clean energy sources [1,2]. Since the invention of solar cells in the 1950s [3], the solid-state junction photovoltaic solar cell devices have dominated photovoltaic solar energy converters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broadband optical absorption measurement of silicon nanowires for photovoltaic solar cell applications

et al. 2014

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The broadband optical absorption properties of silicon nanowire films fabricated by electroless metal deposition technique followed by HF/Fe(NO 3 ) 3 solutionbased chemical etching at room temperature on p-type silicon substrates have been measured and found absorption higher than that of the solid thin films of equivalent thickness. The observed behavior is effectively explained by light scattering and light trapping though some of the observed absorption is due to a high density of surface states in the nanowires films. Synthesized structures absorbed more than 82 % of incident radiation in case of Cu-deposited silicon nanowires, whereas for Ag it was maximum 83 %, which is much greater than that of the bulk silicon as they absorbed maximum 43 % of the radiation.

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“…Moreover, the development of carbon-free sources of energy becomes one of the major scientific challenges for us. As a potential alternative energy resource, solar energy has received extensive attention around the world after the energy crisis in 1970s [1]. Solar cells convert solar energy directly into electricity, which has become a major research interest within academia and industry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternate redox electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Bai

et al. 2012

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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Dye-sensitized mesoscopic solar cell (DSC) has been intensively investigated as a promising photovoltaic cell. Redox electrolyte is important to determine the photovoltaic (PV) performance of the DSC devices, which has become the focus of this topic. In this contribution, recent advances in understanding and controlling of various redox couples are reviewed. Specially, we extend our discussion on the trends that enable iodide-free redox couples to be controllable and feasible for applications in the DSC with promising features. BackgroundMore and more people are realizing that the worldwide demand for energy has been massively increased and this situation will continue till a finial solution exists. However, several reports reveal that the production of oil, as one of the main energy sources, will soon be unable to keep up with the growing demand, thus leading to dire economic consequences. In order to sustain global political, economic and environmental stability, it is necessary to get an abundant supply of energy. Moreover, the development of carbon-free sources of energy becomes one of the major scientific challenges for us. As a potential alternative energy resource, solar energy has received extensive attention around the world after the energy crisis in 1970s [1]. Solar cells convert solar energy directly into electricity, which has become a major research interest within academia and industry. Approximately 90% of the PV units produced today are made from crystalline silicon (known as first generation solar cell), which is composed of large area p-n junctions, and others from thin films devices based on amorphous silicon (second generation solar cell, including CdTe, CIGS and other compound semiconductors). These devices based on p-n heterojunctions absorb part of the sunlight (absorption from 0.8-0.9 eV) and convert this light energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic effect. Laboratory devices with efficiencies over 25% have been demonstrated, and the best commercial cells have now reached efficiencies of 17%-18% [2]. However, the high cost effectiveness of these devices still drives people to develop new type of solar cells expecting to possess high efficiency and low cost. The dominance of the photovoltaic market by inorganic solid-state junction devices is now being challenged by the emergence of a third generation of cells. Among them the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC, also known as Grätzel cell) with a new type of charge separation mechanism is a promising potential candidate [3]. The DSC, with a sandwich structure, is mainly composed of a mesoporous nanocrystalline network of wide band gap semiconductor (typically TiO 2 ), a monolayer of dye molecules (such as ruthenium dye) attached to the semiconductor, a redox electrolyte (typically I − /I 3 − ) and a platinum counter electrode. Figure 1 shows the basic structure and operating principle of the DSC. Basically, upon illumination, electrons in the sensitizer dye are photo-excited to be the excited states, followed by an electron injecti...

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Photovoltaic Technology: The Case for Thin-Film Solar Cells

Cited by 1,135 publications

References 22 publications

Photovoltaics — a path to sustainable futures

Photovoltaics — a path to sustainable futures

Broadband optical absorption measurement of silicon nanowires for photovoltaic solar cell applications

Alternate redox electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells

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