Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Nanocrystalline V-Substituted In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, a Novel Material for More Efficient Use of Solar Radiation

Lucena, Raquel; Aguilera, Irene; Palacios, Pablo; Wahnón, P.; Conesa, J.C.

doi:10.1021/cm801128b

Cited by 103 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…rather larger than the experimental bandgap found for unsubstituted MgIn 2 S 4 (2.1-2.28 eV 40 ' 42 ), and also larger than the onset of the main absorption rise measured for the V-substituted In 2 S 3 , 12 which occurs at ca. 2.2 eV.…”

Section: Quantum Modelling Of the Materialsmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…The optical spectrum of both materials (shown as the logarithm of diffuse reflectance), already given in ref. 12, is superimposed on these curves.…”

Section: Photocatalytic Test Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 It was verified there that the V-containing product, with a V : In ratio - Paper aliquots, filtration and UV spectrometric measurement of the remaining HCOOH concentration in the liquid through its absorbance at A -205 nm. Photoluminescence tests at ambient temperature were carried out using a Perkin-Elmer LS50B fluorimeter with monochromatized excitation light.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Consequently, the absorption onset observed at ca. 1.65 eV in the experimental spectrum of the V-substituted In 2 S 3 sample 12 can be ascribed to the electron excitation across the subbandgap existing between the VB and the IB, which would be larger than that between the IB and the CB (as depicted in Fig. 1).…”

Section: Quantum Modelling Of the Materialsmentioning

confidence: 93%

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V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

et al. 2014

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We proposed in our previous work V-substituted ln2S3asan intermediate band (IB) material able to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by combining two photons to achieve a higher energy electron excitation, much like natural photosynthesis. Here this hyper-doped material is tested in a photocatalytic reaction using wavelength-controlled light. The results evidence its ability to use photons with wavelengths of up to 750 nm, i.e. with energy significantly lower than the bandgap (=2.0 eV) of nonsubstituted ln2S3, driving with them the photocatalytic reaction at rates comparable to those of nonsubstituted ln2S3 in its photoactivity range (A < 650 nm). Photoluminescence spectra evidence that the same bandgap excitation as in V-free ln2S3 occurs in V-substituted ln2S3 upon illumination with photons in the same sub-bandgap energy range which is effective in photocatalysis, and its linear dependence on light intensity proves that this is not due to a nonlinear optical property. This evidences for the first time that a two-photon process can be active in photocatalysis in a single-phase material. Quantum calculations using GW-type many-body perturbation theory suggest that the new band introduced in the ln2S3 gap by V insertion is located closer to the conduction band than to the valence band, so that hot carriers produced by the two-photon process would be of electron type; they also show that the absorption coefficients of both transitions involving the IB are of significant and similar magnitude. The results imply that V-substituted ln2S3, besides being photocatalytically active in the whole visible light range (a property which could be used for the production of solar fuels), could make possible photovoltaic cells of improved efficiency.

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Section: Quantum Modelling Of the Materialsmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…The optical spectrum of both materials (shown as the logarithm of diffuse reflectance), already given in ref. 12, is superimposed on these curves.…”

Section: Photocatalytic Test Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Quantum Modelling Of the Materialsmentioning

confidence: 93%

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V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

et al. 2014

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“…This is important because it means the IB is already partially filled without having to rely on impurity doping, which reduces densities and therefore lowers absorption levels. This material, which researchers have been able to synthesize in powder form by chemical solvo-thermal methods, has demonstrated impressively high sub-bandgap absorption 38 (Fig. 4a).…”

Section: Bulk Ib Materials and Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding intermediate-band solar cells

2012

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The intermediate-band solar cell is designed to provide a large photogenerated current while maintaining a high output voltage. To make this possible, these cells incorporate an energy band that is partially filled with electrons within the forbidden bandgap of a semiconductor. Photons with insufficient energy to pump electrons from the valence band to the conduction band can use this intermediate band as a stepping stone to generate an electron-hole pair. Nanostructured materials and certain alloys have been employed in the practical implementation of intermediate-band solar cells, although challenges still remain for realizing practical devices. Here we offer our present understanding of intermediate-band solar cells, as well as a review of the different approaches pursed for their practical implementation. We also discuss how best to resolve the remaining technical issues.T he intermediate-band (IB) solar cell consists of an IB material sandwiched between two ordinary n-and p-type semiconductors 1 , which act as selective contacts to the conduction band (CB) and valence band (VB), respectively (Fig. la). In an IB material, sub-bandgap energy photons are absorbed through transitions from the VB to the IB and from the IB to the CB, which together add up to the current of conventional photons absorbed through the VB-CB transition. In 1997 2 , researchers used hypotheses similar to those adopted by Shockley and Queisser in 1961 3 to derive a detailed balance-limiting efficiency of 63% for the IB solar cell, at isotropic sunlight illumination (concentration of 46,050 suns) and assuming Sun and Earth temperatures to be 6,000 K and 300 K, respectively (Fig. lb). This work also presented the Shockley-Queisser limiting efficiency of 41% for single-gap solar cells operating under the same conditions 2 . The limiting efficiency of the IB solar cell is similar to that of a triple-junction solar cell connected in series. However, the IB can be regarded 4 as a set of two cells connected in series (corresponding to the VB-IB and IB-CB transitions) and one in parallel (corresponding to the VB-CB transition). This provides the IB solar cell with additional tolerance to changes in the solar spectrum.An optimal IB solar cellhas a total bandgap of about 1.95 eV, which is split by the IB into two sub-bandgaps of approximately 0.71 eV and 1.24 eV The quasi-Fermi levels (QFLs) or electrochemical potentials of the electrons in the different bands are usually close to the edges of the bands. Because the voltage of any solar cell is the difference between the CB QFL at the electrode in contact with the n-type side and the VB QFL at the electrode in contact with the p-type side, the maximum photovoltage of the IB solar cell is limited to 1.95 eV, although it is still capable of absorbing photons of energy above 0.71 eV In contrast, single-gap solar cells cannot supply a voltage greater than the lowest photon energy they can absorb. IB solar cells can deliver a high photovoltage by absorbing two subbandgap photons to produce one high ...

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Theoretical Limits of Photovoltaic Conversion and New‐Generation Solar Cells

Ĺuque¹,

Martı́²

2010

Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering

145

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Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Nanocrystalline V-Substituted In₂S₃, a Novel Material for More Efficient Use of Solar Radiation

Cited by 103 publications

References 21 publications

V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

Understanding intermediate-band solar cells

Theoretical Limits of Photovoltaic Conversion and New‐Generation Solar Cells

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Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Nanocrystalline V-Substituted In2S3, a Novel Material for More Efficient Use of Solar Radiation

Cited by 103 publications

References 21 publications

V-substituted In2S3: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

V-substituted In2S3: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

Understanding intermediate-band solar cells

Theoretical Limits of Photovoltaic Conversion and New‐Generation Solar Cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Synthesis and Spectral Properties of Nanocrystalline V-Substituted In₂S₃, a Novel Material for More Efficient Use of Solar Radiation

V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range

V-substituted In₂S₃: an intermediate band material with photocatalytic activity in the whole visible light range