Modeling improvement of spectral response of solar cells by deployment of spectral converters containing semiconductor nanocrystals

Sark, W.G.J.H.M. van; Meijerink, Andries; Schropp, R.E.I.; Roosmalen, J.A.M. van; Lysen, E.H.

doi:10.1134/1.1787120

Cited by 55 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Spectral downconverters convert the wavelengths where the spectral response is low to wavelengths where the spectral response is high. [2][3][4][5] A promising method can help single-crystalline Si (sc-Si) solar cells capture more energy from the solar spectrum via spectral DC of lanthanide rare earth (RE) ions near-infrared (NIR) quantum cutting (QC): Cutting an ultraviolet (or a blue photon) into two or more NIR photons, which can be well absorbed by sc-Si solar cells, will reduce the energy loss related to thermalization of hot charge carriers and then improve the ECE of sc-Si solar cells. 6 The potential applications of NIR QC in sc-Si solar cells have attracted a lot of recent research attentions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of downconverter based on Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped fluoride glasses to improve sc-Si solar cells efficiency

Song

Jiang

2012

AIP Advances

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Quantum cutting via a two-step resonant energy transfer in a spectral downconverter of Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped fluoride glass is investigated numerically by proposing up and solving the theoretical model of rate equations and power propagation equations. Based on the optimal Pr3+-Yb3+ concentration and the thickness of the spectral downconverter, the total power conversion efficiency of 175% and total quantum conversion efficiency of 186% are obtained. The performance of a sc-Si solar cell covered with a spectral downconverter is evaluated with the photovoltaic simulation programme PC1D. For sc-Si solar cells, the energy conversion efficiency of 14.90% for the modified AM1.5G compared to a 12.25% energy conversion efficiency for the standard AM1.5G has been obtained, and the simulated relative energy conversion efficiency for the sc-Si solar cell approaches up to 1.21. Our results show that the use of a spectral downconverter yields better sc-Si solar cell performance compared to the standard AM1.5G irradiation. The paper also provides a framework for investigating and optimizing the rare-earth doped spectral downconverter, potentially enabling a sc-Si solar cell with an efficiency improvement

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of downconverter based on Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped fluoride glasses to improve sc-Si solar cells efficiency

Song

Jiang

2012

AIP Advances

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“…Due to the PL conversion, a He-Cd laser beam (λ = 325 nm) shone through, and a bright red line could be clearly seen by the naked eye. The increase in I SC again demonstrated the validity of PL conversion in increasing the I SC of crystalline Si solar cells [8,11] . However, the open-circuit voltage, U OC , was nearly constant with the change in C Si .…”

mentioning

confidence: 60%

Solar cell performance improvement via photoluminescence conversion of Si nanoparticles

et al. 2012

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Photoluminescence (PL) conversion of Si nanoparticles by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) lights and emitting visible ones has been used to improve the efficiency of crystalline Si solar cells. Si nanoparticle thin films are prepared by pulverizing porous Si in ethanol and then mixing the suspension with a SiO 2 sol-gel (SOG). This SOG is spin-deposited onto the surface of the Si solar cells and dries in air. The short-circuit current as a function of Si nanoparticle concentration is investigated under UV illumination. The maximal increase is found at a Si concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. At such concentration and under the irradiation of an AM0 solar simulator, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the crystalline Si solar cell is relatively increased by 2.16% because of the PL conversion.OCIS codes: 310.6628, 310.6860, 350.6050, 160.4236. doi: 10.3788/COL201210.063101. The use of solar cells as electric power supply is one of the solutions to the problems of increasing global energy consumption and decreasing fossil fuel storage [1] . Moreover, it is almost the only energy source for satellites, space stations, and other outer space exploration activities [2] . Currently, commercial solar cells normally utilize a narrow band of solar emission spectrum, i.e., from visible to near-infrared regimes, because of the bandgap limitations of the related semiconductors, such as Si, GaAs, CdTe, and CuIn 1−x Ga x Se 2 [3,4] . Thus, the main approach in improving the performance of the current solar cells is the use of upconversion films to convert infrared lights into visible ones and thus increase the absorbed light flux of a solar cell [3−6] . However, the upconversion probability is so low that its practical application is still currently unavailable. Another approach is the use of downconversion and photoluminescence (PL) conversion mechanisms to convert ultraviolet (UV) lights into visible ones for the same purpose [3−12] . Although the quantum efficiency of downconversion for current materials could be high, the wavelength range of UV light to be downconverted is usually from 100 to 200 nm, which is hardly covered by the solar spectrum. The PL conversion probability can be on the order of 10% [3,13,14] compared with that of upconversion, which is less than 0.1%. Thus, PL conversion is practically and technically important particularly for solar cells used in the outer space and highlands because the amount of UV light (∼ 250 nm < λ < 390 nm) from the sun is relatively high [9−12] . During the investigation of Si nanoparticle light emissions, Si nanoparticles were found to absorb UV light and emit red or near-infrared ones [9−14] . This feature of PL conversion can be used to improve the performance of crystalline Si solar cells [9−12] , particularly the dominant ones in the market today, which absorb red light most efficiently. In this letter, the correlation between the PL emissions of Si nanoparticles dispersed in SiO 2 and the short-circuit current of crystalline Si solar cells was first studied under UV ligh...

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“…In 2004 van Sark et al [9] studied CdSe quantum dots (QDs) as spectral shifting components for photovoltaic applications and have shown that QDs can be used as an alternative material for down-shifting converters on top of multi-crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells. Later, Hogson et al [10] reported the application of CdSe/ZnS QD/PMMA luminescent down-shifting films to CdTe solar cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward cadmium-free spectral down-shifting converters for photovoltaic applications

Lesyuk

Marinov

Hobbie

et al. 2016

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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Modeling improvement of spectral response of solar cells by deployment of spectral converters containing semiconductor nanocrystals

Cited by 55 publications

References 28 publications

Modeling of downconverter based on Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped fluoride glasses to improve sc-Si solar cells efficiency

Modeling of downconverter based on Pr3+-Yb3+ codoped fluoride glasses to improve sc-Si solar cells efficiency

Solar cell performance improvement via photoluminescence conversion of Si nanoparticles

Toward cadmium-free spectral down-shifting converters for photovoltaic applications

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