Past and future of graphene/silicon heterojunction solar cells: a review

Abstract

Graphene/silicon (Gr/Si) Schottky junction solar cells represent an alternative low-cost, easy fabrication structure in photovoltaic devices.

Progress of Graphene–Silicon Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices

“…On the other hand, active area of Gr–Si solar cells is still limited. Almost all of the Gr–Si solar cells reported have an area smaller than 0.1 cm 2 , which is too small for building photovoltaic modules. As mentioned earlier, a wet transfer method is commonly utilized in the fabrication of Gr–Si solar cells.…”

MXene‐Contacted Silicon Solar Cells with 11.5% Efficiency

“…2D nanomaterials have been identified as promising materials for future electronics and optoelectronic based devices including solar cells, light‐emitting diodes, transistors, memory devices, photodetectors, laser applications, etc . In particular, 2D material‐based solar cells have gained significant attention because of their easy device fabrication process, excellent optical properties, solution processable approach, low temperature fabrication, and tunable band structure at nanoscale dimensions . For example, 2D graphene with multiple optoelectronic properties such as excellent electrical conductivity and better optical transmittance can be an ideal candidate to combine with Si solar cells.…”

Ti3C2Tx (MXene)‐Silicon Heterojunction for Efficient Photovoltaic Cells

“…Inspired by the previous success in carbon nanotube/Si and graphene/Si heterojunction PV cells with high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), we report a low‐cost, solution‐processable solar cell, based on a Ti 3 C 2 T x ‐on‐Si heterojunction that has initial efficiencies of ≈5% under simulated AM1.5 full solar illumination. We further showed that the PV efficiency of the as‐prepared Ti 3 C 2 T x ‐on‐Si solar cells can be improved to be more than 9% by applying simple chemical treatments using HCl and AuCl 3 .…”

“…Therefore, the efficiency of charge separation at a solar cell junction formed between the MXene and a semiconductor of a proper bandgap such as silicon (Si) can be improved, in addition to fulfilling the requirements as a transparent conducting electrode. Inspired by the previous success in carbon nanotube/Si [28] and graphene/Si [29] heterojunction PV cells with high power A novel type of solar cell has been developed based on charge separation at the heterojunction formed by a transparent conducting MXene electrode and an n-type silicon (n-Si) wafer. Very recently, Yang et al [27] have demonstrated low-temperature perovskite solar cells with high efficiency and small cell-to-cell variations using solution-processed Ti 3 C 2 /SnO 2 nanocomposites as the electron transporting layers.…”

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, no attempt has been made to employ MXenes as an active component in a photovoltaic device. Inspired by the previous success in carbon nanotube/Si [28] and graphene/Si [29] heterojunction PV cells with high power A novel type of solar cell has been developed based on charge separation at the heterojunction formed by a transparent conducting MXene electrode and an n-type silicon (n-Si) wafer. A thin layer of the native silicon dioxide plays an important role in suppressing the recombination of charge carriers.…”