Optimization of Third Generation Nanostructured Silicon- Based Solar Cells

Sohrabi, Foozieh; Nikniazi, Arash; Movla, Hossein

doi:10.5772/51616

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…56 The broad band around 750 cm −1 is attributed to nanocrystalline SiC. 59 The peaks at around 506 and 970 cm −1 are the first-order and second-order, respectively, transverse optical (TO) phonon modes of Si nanoparticles of about 8 nm. 60,61 After 520 charge−discharge cycles, the Raman spectrum (Figure 8b) shows broadening of the Si TO mode, indicating amorphization of the Si nanoparticles upon lithiation/ delithiation processes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the Structural Changes Undergone by Hybrid Nanostructured Si-CNTs Employed as an Anode Material in a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

Palomino

Varshney²,

Weiner

et al. 2015

J. Phys. Chem. C

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Silicon–carbon nanotube (Si-CNT) hybrid structures have been fabricated in a single step on Cu substrate by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). A mixture of straight chain saturated aliphatic polymer and Si nanoparticles was used as the seeding source. The material was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and the Si content in the Si-CNT was estimated to be ∼15% wt % by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thereafter, the films were used for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, whose cyclic voltammetry studies show redox peaks for Si and C consistent with lithium insertion/extraction, indicating good reversibility over extensive cycling. Electrochemical tests showed that Si-CNT electrodes can deliver an initial high discharge capacity of ∼700 mAh/g and a reversible capacity of ∼500 mAh/g over 520 cycles. After electrochemical cycling, the Si-CNTs were analyzed and compared to pristine material. The cycled films showed an increment of Si-CNT diameter and negligible cracks, formed due to high volumetric expansion of the silicon upon lithiation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy performed before electrochemical cycling established the presence of crystalline Si nanoparticles (<10 nm), and amorphous Si particles still bound to CNT after cycling. These results were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After cycling, the films showed good contact with the Cu substrate, and delamination was not observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Si-CNT hybrid structure grown in a single step represents a promising anode material for a rechargeable LIB with high energy density and long cycling stability.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the Structural Changes Undergone by Hybrid Nanostructured Si-CNTs Employed as an Anode Material in a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

Palomino

Varshney²,

Weiner

et al. 2015

J. Phys. Chem. C

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“…The photovoltaic market has been increasing gradually over the past 10 years. The most widely used solar cells are the crystalline silicon accounting for almost 90% of the market [1][2][3] . For most commercial solar cells, about 15% of the incident solar energy is converted into useful power, while the rest is converted into heat inside the solar cell.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Graphene-enhanced thermal interface materials for heat removal from photovoltaic solar cells

et al. 2016

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The increase in the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells affects negatively their power conversion efficiency and decreases their lifetime. The negative effects are particularly pronounced in concentrator solar cells. Therefore, it is crucial to limit the PV cell temperature by effectively removing the excess heat. Conventional thermal phase change materials (PCMs) and thermal interface materials (TIMs) do not possess the thermal conductivity values sufficient for thermal management of the next generation of PV cells. In this paper, we report the results of investigation of the increased efficiency of PV cells with the use of graphene-enhanced TIMs. Graphene reveals the highest values of the intrinsic thermal conductivity. It was also shown that the thermal conductivity of composites can be increased via utilization of graphene fillers. We prepared TIMs with up to 6% of graphene designed specifically for PV cell application. The solar cells were tested using the solar simulation module. It was found that the drop in the output voltage of the solar panel under two-sun concentrated illumination can be reduced from 19% to 6% when graphene-enhanced TIMs are used. The proposed method can recover up to 75% of the power loss in solar cells.

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“…Otherwise, the wideband nature of the solar radiation will yield sub-optimal efficiencies below the 44% Shockley-Queisser limit [9] calculated for a 1.1 eV energy gap. In practical terms, this limitation is considered the major reason [10] as to why single junction solar cells have efficiency figures of around 20%. This frequency-dependent behavior is not only limited to p-n junction solar cells, but also affects the rectennas' behavior in modeled prototypes as will become more evident in Section 5.…”

Section: Discovery Of the Photovoltaic Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

THz Rectennas and Their Design Rules

2017

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Abstract:The increasing demand for more efficient energy harvesting solutions has urged research for better harvesting solutions than the presently-available ones. While p-n junction solar cells have become commercially widespread, they are expensive and suffer from poor efficiency figures hardly reaching 20%. Other radiation-electricity converters such as rectennas have a theoretical limit in excess of 80%. However, no efficient rectenna solution for the terahertz frequency band has been commercialized or presented in the academic literature. In fact, there are many obstructions to an efficient solution. The aim of this paper is to address the key points towards an efficient and commercially-available solution by briefly reviewing the relevant literature and so identifying five factors that should be addressed in order to reach an efficient solution.

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Optimization of Third Generation Nanostructured Silicon- Based Solar Cells

Cited by 13 publications

References 22 publications

Study of the Structural Changes Undergone by Hybrid Nanostructured Si-CNTs Employed as an Anode Material in a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

Study of the Structural Changes Undergone by Hybrid Nanostructured Si-CNTs Employed as an Anode Material in a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

Graphene-enhanced thermal interface materials for heat removal from photovoltaic solar cells

THz Rectennas and Their Design Rules

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