Development of semitransparent CIGS thin-film solar cells modified with a sulfurized-AgGa layer for building applications

Saifullah, Muhammad; Ahn, SeJin; Gwak, Jihye; Ahn, Sungsook; Kim, Kihwan; Cho, Jun-Sik; Park, Joo Hyung; Eo, Young Joo; Yoo, Jinsu; Yun, Jae Ho

doi:10.1039/c6ta01909a

Cited by 64 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Most semitransparent photovoltaic products on the market are currently based on thin semiconductor layers, such as crystalline or amorphous silicon, that absorb nonselectively a broad range of wavelengths, but are thin enough to permit transmission of visible light to a certain extent . Such thin‐film devices with a broadband absorption typically exhibit average visible transmission values (AVT, 370–740 nm) up to 50% and this involves an inherent tradeoff between PCE and AVT .…”

Section: Synthetic Approaches Toward Semitransparent Oscsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

et al. 2019

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Recent research efforts on solution-processed semitransparent organic solar cells (OSCs) are presented. Essential properties of organic donor:acceptor bulk heterojunction blends and electrode materials, required for the combination of simultaneous high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and average visible transmittance of photovoltaic devices, are presented from the materials science and device engineering points of view. Aspects of optical perception, charge generation-recombination, and extraction processes relevant for semitransparent OSCs are also discussed in detail. Furthermore, the theoretical limits of PCE for fully transparent OSCs, compared to the performance of the best reported semitransparent OSCs, and options for further optimization are discussed. Hall of Fame ArticleAlthough the last decade has seen much progress in the field of OSC research, the development of semitransparent devices lags behind because of the lack of optimized photoactive materials. [22][23][24][25] The strong absorption of the active materials in the visible region causes difficulty when one tries to balance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and transmittance. Encouragingly, the recent progress of fullerene-free OSCs has the potential to shed fundamental solutions to overcome these obstacles, hence becoming attractive research topics on developing narrow-bandgap nonfullerene acceptors to researchers. [26][27][28][29][30] We focus in this section on presenting recent progress in the design of narrow-bandgap organic semiconductors that have bandgaps less than 1.5 eV and have extended the boundaries of visible transparent/NIR absorbing OSC technology. Solution-Processable Organic SemiconductorsOrganic semiconductors are carbon-based materials with an electronically delocalized π-conjugated backbone. Such π-conjugated systems are created by a linear series of overlapping p z orbitals (π bonds). [31,32] As the parallel overlap of carbon p z orbitals increases with the molecular extension, the π bonds may further spread out into π bands, and this leads to a narrower energy bandgap. The energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) corresponds to the topmost π band, and the lowest π* band is referred to as the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The energy gap between the HOMO and the LUMO dominates optical properties. Photoexcitations result in Coulombically bound excitons (electron-hole pairs) due to the low dielectric constant (ε ≈ 2−4) characteristic of organic semiconductors. [33,34] The exciton binding energy is in the range of 0.3−1 eV, thus requiring a high interfacial area between electron donor (D) and electron acceptor (A) components to promote exciton dissociation into free carriers. [35,36] This approach has led to the development of organic bulk heterojunctions (BHJs), which are cast from blend solutions of D and A components. [37][38][39] The excitonic nature of organic semiconductors offers an advantage in wavelength-specific light harvesting applications through a delicate manipulation of energy ...

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Section: Synthetic Approaches Toward Semitransparent Oscsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

et al. 2019

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“…The scope of such opportunities covers not only classical rooftop photovoltaics (PV) but also the various architectural constituent units of buildings, including windows, atria, and skylights, as well as agrivoltaics. [ 2,3 ] Among the various PV applications, flexible semi‐transparent ultra‐thin (F‐STUT) Cu(In 1− x ,Ga x )Se 2 (CIGSe) solar cells have boundless potential owing to their flexibility, customizability, and adaptability, which simultaneously allow daylighting and power generation. F‐STUT CIGSe solar cells should employ transparent conducting oxide (TCO) back‐contacts (BCs) instead of conventional Mo BCs for transparent applications [ 4–7 ] as well as bifacial PVs, [ 8 ] and their flexibility should be applicable to both flat and round surfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 27 ] This barrier tends to hinder the collection of holes and causes the roll‐over phenomenon, which has adverse effects that are especially severe for ultra‐thin CIGSe solar cells with an absorber thickness of less than 500 nm. [ 2,3 ] Studies on decreasing Φ b to cope with such barrier‐related losses are under way. [ 24 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flexible and Semi‐Transparent Ultra‐Thin CIGSe Solar Cells Prepared on Ultra‐Thin Glass Substrate: A Key to Flexible Bifacial Photovoltaic Applications

Kim

Shin

Lee

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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For applications to semi‐transparent and/or bifacial solar cells in building‐integrated photovoltaics and building‐applied photovoltaics, studies are underway to reduce the processing cost and time by decreasing the thickness of Cu(In1−x,Gax)Se2 (CIGSe) absorber to the ultra‐thin scale (≤500 nm). To dynamically and affordably meet the growing demand for electric power, daylighting, and architectural aesthetics of buildings in urban area, flexible semi‐transparent ultra‐thin (F‐STUT) CIGSe solar cells are proposed on flexible ultra‐thin glass (UTG) and compared with rigid semi‐transparent ultra‐thin (STUT) CIGSe solar cells fabricated on soda‐lime glass (SLG). At all the tested deposition temperatures of CIGSe, the F‐STUT CIGSe solar cells exhibit superior performance compared to the rigid STUT CIGSe solar cells. Furthermore, through realistic measurement under ≈1.3‐sun illumination, maximum bifacial power conversion efficiency of 11.90% and 13.23% are obtained for SLG and UTG, respectively. The major advantages of using UTG instead of SLG are not only the intrinsic characteristics of UTG, such as flexibility and high transmittance, but also collateral benefits such as the larger CIGSe grain size at the deposition temperature, better CIGSe crystalline quality, more precise controllability of the alkali element, and reduced thickness of the interfacial GaOx layer, which enhance the photovoltaic parameters.

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“…By changing the location of the dichroic layers from the outside to the inside of the cell, the cell colors widely changed from dark-blue to brown. A sulfurized-AgGa layer was added to the transparent ITO layer to induce an optical cavity to control the transmittance of the cell (Saifullah et al, 2016). The transmittance was controlled from 9% to 22% while exhibiting a cell efficiency of approximately 5%.…”

Section: Cigs Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and perspective of colored photovoltaic modules

Lee

Song

2021

WIREs Energy & Environment

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Photovoltaic (PV) systems, which directly convert solar light into electricity, are one of the most attractive renewable energy sources to fulfill the increased demand for clean energy. The accumulated installation of PV systems has expanded rapidly, reaching over 700 GW in 2020. Although black colored PVs maximize energy generation by harvesting a broad range of solar light, their monotonous color limits their installation in urban areas and portable devices where the harmonization of color with neighboring exterior elements is a high priority. Moreover, it is not suitable for covering transparent area of buildings, such as window and curtain wall. Hence, the demand for aesthetic PV systems is increasing significantly. In this review, we focus on the current status of colored PV systems and their prospects for aesthetic energy harvesting system. This work reviews possible approaches to realize colored PV systems by implementing semitransparent cells, selective reflective films, and luminophores. Additionally, the research progress to minimize light sacrifice for color production has been investigated. Moreover, the technical limitations of each technology for colored PV systems are presented in terms of color purity and efficiency. Finally, obstacles to commercialization and their solutions are discussed. Therefore, this study provides a crucial review of the latest developments and current status in the field of colored PV systems.

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Development of semitransparent CIGS thin-film solar cells modified with a sulfurized-AgGa layer for building applications

Abstract: The insertion of sulfurized-AgGa layer at CIGS/ITO interface reduced the bulk and back surface recombination and thus ameliorated the PV performance without adversely affecting the cell’s visible transmittance.

Cited by 64 publications

References 32 publications

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Flexible and Semi‐Transparent Ultra‐Thin CIGSe Solar Cells Prepared on Ultra‐Thin Glass Substrate: A Key to Flexible Bifacial Photovoltaic Applications

Current status and perspective of colored photovoltaic modules

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