Solar Cell Based on Hybrid Structural SiNW/Poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonate)/Graphene

Abstract

Solar energy is considered as a potential alternative energy source. The solar cell is classified into three main types: i) solar cells based on bulk silicon materials (monocrystalline, polycrystalline), ii) thin‐film solar cells (CIGS, CdTe, DSSC, etc.), and iii) solar cells based on nanostructures and nanomaterials. Nowadays, commercial solar cells are usually made by bulk silicon material, which requires not only high fabrication costs but also limited performance. In this study, the fabrication of high‐performance solar cells based on hybrid structure of silicon nanowires/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/graphene (SiNW/PEDOT:PSS/Gr) is focused upon. SiNWs with different lengths of 125, 400, 800 nm, and 2 µm are fabricated by a metal‐assisted chemical etching method, and their influence on the performance of the hybrid solar cells is studied and investigated. The experimental results indicate that the suitable SiNW length for the fabrication of the hybrid solar cells is about 400 nm and the best power conversion efficiency obtained is about 9.05%, which is about 2.1 times higher than that of the planar Si solar cell.

CVD Graphene on Textured Silicon: An Emerging Technologically Versatile Heterostructure for Energy and Detection Applications

“…As mentioned earlier, the p-type doping increases the work function of graphene and intensifies the built-in potential which results in higher PCE. [113][114][115][116][117][118][119] Since PEDOT: PSS and HNO 3 are p-type dopants for graphene, therefore in this study, the directly grown VGNH were co-doped with PEDOT: PSS and HNO 3 . Hence, the directly grown VGNH on textured-Si exhibited a higher work function of ≈4.7 eV, and consequently a higher PCE, that is, 10.97% was achieved with an active area of 0.9 cm 2 after codoping.…”

Enhanced power conversion efficiency of an n-Si/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cell using nanostructured silicon and gold nanoparticles

“…The enhancement could result from the low reflectance of SiNW structures for enhancing the light absorption and to large p/n junction areas for enhancing the carrier collection efficiency. 39–44 Moreover, the increase in the surface roughness of the devices using SiNWs is shown in Fig. 3c.…”

“…The enhancement could result from the low reectance of SiNW structures for enhancing the light absorption and to large p/n junction areas for enhancing the carrier collection efficiency. [39][40][41][42][43][44] Moreover, the increase in the surface roughness of the devices using Table 1 Structure and photovoltaic properties of the hybrid solar cells: short circuit current density (J sc ), open circuit voltage (V oc ), series resistance (R s ), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (PCE)…”

Design of Silicon Nanowire Array for PEDOT:PSS-Silicon Nanowire-Based Hybrid Solar Cell

“…From Table 1, where the highest performing polymer-SiNW hybrid solar cells are tabulated, it is observed that all these solar cells have PEDOT:PSS as a common polymer for SiNW array. Similarly, for each hybrid solar cell the PEDOT:PSS makes radial p-n junction with SiNW array because such radial p-n junction structure efficiently supports both the light absorption and carrier collection perpendicular to each other [41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

“…Shows the SEM images of side-view and top-view (inset) of SiNW fabricated by chemical etching method. When etching-time is doubled (30 min to 60 min) then the length of SiNW is also double (from 4 µm to 8 µm) but the SiNWs of higher length are agglomerated[48].…”