Ultrathin a‐Si:H/Oxide Transparent Solar Cells Exhibiting UV‐Blue Selective‐Like Absorption

Abstract

Herein, the fabrication of transparent solar cells based on nanometric (8 and 30 nm) intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon films (a‐Si:H) and using oxide thin films as transparent carrier selective contacts are reported. The ultrathin devices present photovoltaic effect and high average visible transmittance (AVT). Additionally, they display a shifted spectral response toward short wavelengths. Glass/fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO)/aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO)/a‐Si:H/MoO3/indium tin oxide (ITO) prototypes are shown, presenting AVT = 35% and photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) = 2% for a device with a 30 nm a‐Si:H film. This yields a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of 0.7%, a record up to this date for inorganic oxide‐based transparent solar cells. For devices including an 8 nm a‐Si:H film, the AVT reaches 66% with a PCE = 0.6% (LUE = 0.4%). These high AVT values are comparable or even superior in some cases to those achieved for pure oxide devices. These findings confirm the potential of the proposed architectures for the development of highly transparent energy harvesters as functional components in building‐integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), agrophotovoltaics (APV), sensors and other low‐power devices. In addition, these devices are fabricated with earth‐abundant materials and with up‐scalable techniques that can allow for a feasible implementation.

SbSeI and SbSeBr micro-columnar solar cells by a novel high pressure-based synthesis process

“…The bandgap has also been confirmed from the absorption spectra by photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS), which has been fitted with the Tauc–Urbach model to obtain a direct bandgap of 1.74 eV, see spectra in Fig. S9 † 38.…”

“…S9. † 38 As seen in the SEM images (Fig. 2c), the columnar morphology causes that in many regions there is no phase continuity, which could lead to situations where the CdS is in direct exposure with the Mo back contact.…”

Novel synthesis of semiconductor chalcohalide anti-perovskites by low-temperature molecular precursor ink deposition methodologies

“…With these measurements, the optical absorbance was obtained with a high precision (despite the small thickness and non-uniformity of the layers). 42,43 Then, bandgap was calculated by applying a combined Tauc-Urbach model for the absorption front (see Annex 1 in ESI†), resulting in values of 0.88 eV and 0.97 eV for Ag 3 SI and Ag 3 SBr respectively. These bandgaps are in the appropriate range to absorb most of the solar spectra, making Ag 3 SI and Ag 3 SBr compatible for single junction solar cells or tandem solar cells as the bottom absorber material.…”

Optical Sensing Using Hybrid Multilayer Grating Metasurfaces with Customized Spectral Response

“…Then, for compatibility with fabrication methods involving thermal treatments, we go to the stable inorganic thin-film solar cell type [26,27]. Lastly, when considering low-cost and abundant nontoxic materials, the hydrogenated amorphous silicon (aSiH) thin-film solar cell is a good selection for our design [28][29][30]. The performance of solar cells based on aSiH is improved when thermally treated [31,32].…”