Equivalent Circuit Model for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells Operating at Different Temperatures and Irradiance

Bronzoni, Matteo; Colace, Lorenzo; Iacovo, Andrea De; Laudani, Antonino; Lozito, Gabriele Maria; Lucaferri, Valentina; Radicioni, Martina; Rampino, Stefano

doi:10.3390/electronics7110324

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…share a similar structure but can typically ensure satisfactory efficiencies with thinner layers thanks to having much higher optical absorption as compared to Si. Commercially available monocrystalline Si solar cells exhibit (power) conversion efficiencies of between 20 and 25%; thin-film solar cells such as CIGS and CdTe achieve maximum values between 16 and 20% [21]. These efficiencies are typically evaluated with reference to AM1.5G solar illumination and do not apply to other kinds of light sources.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-Emitting Diodes for Energy Harvesting

Colace,

Assanto,

De Iacovo

2024

Electronics

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Energy harvesting is gaining substantial relevance in the realm of ultra-low-power electronics and Internet-of-Things devices with limited access to classic power sources. Several harvesting approaches are available, depending on the energy source; among them, photovoltaic devices benefit from the highest energy density. However, the inclusion of a dedicated photovoltaic cell in a low-power system may result in increased costs and complexity, thus hampering economic sustainability. Conversely, electronic apparatuses often make use of light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), which could be effectively employed as photovoltaic energy harvesters whenever not actively generating photons. Here, we explore the potentials of commercially available LEDs for energy harvesting and determine their quantum efficiency. We examine the correlation of the latter with the spectral response and the available light, demonstrating that visible-wavelength diode emitters can yield very high conversions in the photovoltaic mode. We report measured quantum efficiencies as high as 39% under low-intensity (100 µW/cm2) fluorescent illumination.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-Emitting Diodes for Energy Harvesting

Colace,

Assanto,

De Iacovo

2024

Electronics

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“…Its function is to limit electronic losses [ 18 ]. A material can crystallize according to three structures: The cubic structure [ 79 ]; The blended structure [ 80 ]; The wurtzite structure [ 80 ]. …”

Section: Photovoltaic Cell Based On Cigsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Photovoltaic Cell Based on CIGS: Principles and Technologies

Salhi

2022

Materials

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Semiconductors used in the manufacture of solar cells are the subject of extensive research. Currently, silicon is the most commonly used material for photovoltaic cells, representing more than 80% of the global production. However, due to its very energy-intensive and costly production method, other materials appear to be preferable over silicon, including the chalcopyrite-structured semiconductors of the CIS-based family (Cu(In, Ga, Al) (Se, S)2). Indeed, these compounds have bandwidths between 1 eV (CuInSe2) and 3 eV (CuAlS2), allowing them to absorb most solar radiation. Moreover, these materials are currently the ones that make it possible to achieve the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiencies from thin-film devices, particularly Cu(In, Ga)Se2, which is considered the most efficient among all drifts based on CIS. In this review, we focus on the CIGS-based solar cells by exploring the different layers and showing the recent progress and challenges.

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“…The simplest model that considers this blocking behavior at low temperatures in thin-film solar cells is based on the five-parameter model [32], which includes an additional diode with a polarity that opposes that of the pn junction [33]. Notwithstanding, this model with two opposing diodes presents some limitations, such as its inability to reproduce the dependence of the saturated forward current on the illumination level, a side effect of the back contact barrier that is also visible in experimental results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phototransistor Behavior in CIGS Solar Cells and the Effect of the Back Contact Barrier

et al. 2020

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In this paper, the impact of the back contact barrier on the performance of Cu (In, Ga) Se2 solar cells is addressed. This effect is clearly visible at lower temperatures, but it also influences the fundamental parameters of a solar cell, such as open-circuit voltage, fill factor and the efficiency at normal operation conditions. A phototransistor model was proposed in previous works and could satisfactorily explain specific effects associated with the back contact barrier, such as the dependence of the saturated current in the forward bias on the illumination level. The effect of this contribution is also studied in this research in the context of metastable parameter drift, typical for Cu (In, Ga) Se2 thin-film solar cells, as a consequence of different bias or light soaking treatments under high-temperature conditions. The impact of the back contact barrier on Cu (In, Ga) Se2 thin-film solar cells is analyzed based on experimental measurements as well as numerical simulations with Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD). A barrier-lowering model for the molybdenum/Cu (In, Ga) Se2 Schottky interface was proposed to reach a better agreement between the simulations and the experimental results. Thus, in this work, the phototransistor behavior is discussed further in the context of metastabilities supported by numerical simulations.

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Equivalent Circuit Model for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells Operating at Different Temperatures and Irradiance

Cited by 12 publications

References 33 publications

Light-Emitting Diodes for Energy Harvesting

Light-Emitting Diodes for Energy Harvesting

The Photovoltaic Cell Based on CIGS: Principles and Technologies

Phototransistor Behavior in CIGS Solar Cells and the Effect of the Back Contact Barrier

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