The History of Photovoltaics with Emphasis on CdTe Solar Cells and Modules

Bosio, A.; Pasini, Stefano; Romeo, N.

doi:10.3390/coatings10040344

Cited by 92 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 122 publications

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“…For example, CdTe solar panels are produced on an industrial scale since the '90s, therefore techniques and processes are well established and performed using fully automated machines. [160] CdTe SC are usually manufactured through a high-rate vapor transport (VTD) process, where the semiconducting layer is sublimated and deposited on the conductive contact. [161] The fraction of evaporated material that does not reach the surface forms a fine particulate, and several measures are applied in order to avoid any contamination of workers and environment.…”

Section: Occupational Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Third‐Generation Solar Cells: Toxicity and Risk of Exposure

Buitrago

Novello

Meyer

2020

Helvetica Chimica Acta

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Solar energy is considered clean energy, and its use is predicted to increase in the near future. Most installed units today are crystalline solar cells, but the field is in constant development, and when the first dye sensitized solar cell was published by Grätzel and O'Reagan a new, third‐generation, solar power was born. Highly toxic metals are used to produce the photovoltaic units today, and with the predicted increase in solar cell installation, the human health hazards of these panels could become an issue. Additionally, many of these materials are used in their nanoform, which is associated with an additional risk. In this article, we discuss the technology behind the third‐generation solar cells with its valuable use of nanotechnology as well as the possible health hazard when such nanomaterials are used in solar power units. We will show that the main exposure will occur either during the development and production phases or at the end‐of‐life stage of the solar cells, where toxic material can leach into landfills, and subsequently into the environment and impact the ecosystem directly, or humans indirectly through edible plants or drinking water.

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Section: Occupational Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Third‐Generation Solar Cells: Toxicity and Risk of Exposure

Buitrago

Novello

Meyer

2020

Helvetica Chimica Acta

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“…Modules made of second generation cells are characterized by the fact that the semiconductor material is applied as a thin film (only a few micrometers). The three major thin film photovoltaic technologies in the market are a-Si (amorphous silicon), CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium and Selenide) [16] [17] and CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) [18], which the oldest is the first of them. Among these, CdTe and CIGS modules achieves the highest efficiency compared to the amorphous silicon.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the second‐generation of CdTe and CIGS thin film PV modules under natural sunlight conditions

Dyndał¹,

Sanetra²,

Marszałek³

2024

RE&PQJ

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There is a significant amount of research in the literature concerning the performance of solar panels operating during outdoor exposure, but the full topic is not yet exhausted. One of the reasons is that the photovoltaic cell technology is constantly evolving. In this paper, a comparison of two types of CdTe and CIGS modules operated with a nominal power of 80 W and 140 W, respectively is studied. The module tests were performed under external conditions during autumn, winter, spring, and summer from October 2019 to July 2020 in the temperate climate of Miękinia, South Poland. The photovoltaic panels were connected to the electric grid via microinverters. During the tests, the temperature of the panels was monitored. To determine the influence of solar radiation on the energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaic panels, a pyranometer installed in the plane of the panels was used. Based on the monitoring of the atmospheric conditions and the measurement of instantaneous power, the efficiency of the modules is determined.

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“…Historically, the best performances were obtained in CdTe thin film solar cells with superstrate configuration while using the n-type partner as the cadmium sulfide (CdS) material [4]. Continuous performance enhancement is mostly attributed to the optimization of the sheets of the top structure of the sub-cell, clear electrical connection, the layer of the window, and careful selection of the glass substrates [5]. As per Kranz et al, the CdTe solar cell standard design includes a thin layer of CdS windows and the inclusion of the TCO capabilities to prevent VOC reduction and the loss of fill factor due to frontal pinhole formation [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical Losses of Frontal Layers in Superstrate CdS/CdTe Solar Cells Using OPAL2

2021

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In this paper, optical losses in CdS/CdTe solar cells are calculated on the basis of the designated reflective index of various frontal layers using an OPAL2 calculator for the first time. Two types of glass (0.1 mm ultra-thin Schott and 1.1 mm standard borosilicate glass) were assumed to be coated by different Transparent-Conducting-Oxides (TCOs) such as SnO2:F, ZnO:Al, and ITO forming frontal layers for CdS/CdTe solar cells in superstrate configuration. Absorption, reflectance, transmittance, and consequently optical bandgap energies are calculated as a function of common thicknesses, used in the literature. The results show that an increase in TCO thickness led to a decrease in optical band gap as well as an enhancement in contact potential difference, which can deteriorate device performance. The optimum thickness of 100 nm for SnO2:F was calculated, while 200 nm for ZnO:Al and ITO show reasonable optical losses caused by reflections at the interfaces’ and the layer’s absorption. It is seen that 80 to 150 nm CdS on ITO might be an effective range to satisfy a high short circuit current and low defect densities at the CdS/CdTe interface. Finally, a minimum 2 μm thickness for the CdTe on the ultra-thin Schott glass coated by optimum layers can result in the highest short circuit current of 28.69 mA/cm2. This work offers a practical equivalent strategy to be applied for any superstrate solar cells containing TCO and CdS frontal layers.

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The History of Photovoltaics with Emphasis on CdTe Solar Cells and Modules

Cited by 92 publications

References 122 publications

Third‐Generation Solar Cells: Toxicity and Risk of Exposure

Third‐Generation Solar Cells: Toxicity and Risk of Exposure

Study of the second‐generation of CdTe and CIGS thin film PV modules under natural sunlight conditions

Optical Losses of Frontal Layers in Superstrate CdS/CdTe Solar Cells Using OPAL2

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