Plastic Microgroove Solar Cells Using CuInSe₂ Nanocrystals

Abstract

Plastic photovoltaic devices (PVs) were fabricated by spray-depositing copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2) nanocrystals into micrometer-scale groove features patterned into polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. Each groove has sidewall coatings of Al/CdS and Au and performs as an individual solar cell. These PV groove features can be linked electrically in series to achieve high voltages. For example, cascades of up to 15 grooves have been made with open-circuit voltages of up to 5.8 V. On the basis of the groove geometry, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the devices reached as high as 2.2%. Using the active area and photovoltaic response of devices determined from light-beam-induced current (LBIC) and photoreflectivity measurements gave PCE values as high as 4.4%.

Electro‐photovoltaics of Polymer‐stabilized Copper–Indium Selenide Quantum Dot

“…This was determined by a1 μm thick film using I/V measurements inbetween the aluminum electrode and ITO substrate. A study by Pernik et al [23], focused on developing a plastic photovoltaic devices (PVs) by thermal spraying CuInSe 2 nanocrystals into a groove features that is micrometerscale together with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. When inspected carefully, the obtained signal for photovoltaic tool was attributed to the light-beaminduced current (LBIC) and photoreflectivity measurements which gave PCE a high value of 4.4 %.…”

Facile Exchange of Tightly Bonded L-Type Oleylamine and Diphenylphosphine Ligands on Copper Indium Diselenide Nanocrystals Mediated by Molecular Iodine

“…Nanocrystals made of I–III–VI semiconductors, such as CuInSe 2 , have been of significant interest in the past decade. − Ligand-capped CuInSe 2 nanocrystals can be synthesized as efficient light emitters , or formulated into inks for fabrication of the light-absorbing layer in photovoltaic devices (PVs). − Understanding the physical and chemical relationships between nanocrystals and their organic ligand shell underlies the development of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on these materials . The organic ligands provide colloidal stability, which has enabled the fabrication of PVs on unique substrates like paper and grooves in plastic that cannot withstand high-temperature processing; however, the performance of PVs made with CuInSe 2 nanocrystals without high-temperature selenization has been limited by poor charge transport because of the organic ligands in the film. ,, In the case of PbS nanocrystals, high-performance PVs have been made by modifying the capping ligand layer using various ligand exchange processes with thiols, ammonium salts, and halides. − In one case, addition of I 2 to PbS nanocrystals helped to improve PV device performance . Ligands have been exchanged on CuInSe 2 nanocrystals for improved electrical conductivity and photoconductivity in deposited layers, but ligand exchange has not resulted in significant improvements in PV performance. ,,, One problem is that ligand bonding on CuInSe 2 nanocrystals has not been studied to any significant extent.…”

“…21−23 Understanding the physical and chemical relationships between nanocrystals and their organic ligand shell underlies the development of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on these materials. 24 The organic ligands provide colloidal stability, which has enabled the fabrication of PVs on unique substrates like paper 25 and grooves in plastic 26 that cannot withstand high-temperature processing; however, the performance of PVs made with CuInSe 2 nanocrystals without high-temperature selenization has been limited by poor charge transport because of the organic ligands in the film. 21,27,28 In the case of PbS nanocrystals, high-performance PVs have been made by modifying the capping ligand layer using various ligand exchange processes with thiols, ammonium salts, and halides.…”

“…34 Ligands have been exchanged on CuInSe 2 nanocrystals for improved electrical conductivity and photoconductivity in deposited layers, but ligand exchange has not resulted in significant improvements in PV performance. 26,27,35,36 One problem is that ligand bonding on CuInSe 2 nanocrystals has not been studied to any significant extent.…”

A flexible back-contact perovskite solar micro-module

“…Here, a champion PCE of 2.2% was measured, with this value expected to underestimate the actual device efficiency by a factor of two due to non-uniform photocurrent generation across the microgroove. 18 Here we show that such perovskite-based groove devices achieve a maximum PCE of 7.3%. Furthermore, embossing multiple grooves in series can be used to create integrated micromodules, having PCEs of up to 4.4% and open circuit voltages (V OC ) of up to nearly 15 V. We characterise the solar grooves with focussed ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and laser-beam-induced current (LBIC) mapping.…”