Ultrathin Nano-Absorbers in Photovoltaics: Prospects and Innovative Applications

Götz, Maximilian; Osterthun, Norbert; Gehrke, Kai; Vehse, Martin; Agert, Carsten

doi:10.3390/coatings10030218

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Small deviations at wavelengths between 600 -800 nm can be explained by the remaining light transmission in the thin Mg/Pd layers. After hydrogenation, the photocurrent generation decreases significantly, due to the fact that the Mg layer no longer confines the electric field in the cavity [11]. The vanishing of the optical resonance effect is correlated with the switching of the reflector into the transparent state.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, we created a model which tracks the direct radiation onto a switchable window with 5% efficiency installed vertically in the building façade. Previous publications have already shown, that 5% efficiency can be reached using this technology [11]. For the model, we considered windows facing in four different cardinal directions: south (S), southwest (SW), west (W) and north (N).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ultra-Thin a-Ge:H Solar Cell with Switchable Absorption Enhancement: Towards Smart Photovoltaic Windows

Götz¹,

Gehrke²,

Meddeb³

et al. 2020

2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

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Realizing a window with power generation ondemand and light management at the same time is one of the most intriguing challenges of the building-integrated photovoltaic community. We present an approach for a switchable solar window that enables a reversible transition from a light absorption state, which results in a photo-generated current, to a semi-transparent state. The device is based on an ultra-thin amorphous germanium layer, arranged in an optical cavity for broadband light absorption. The applicability of our device is tested by modeling the switching behavior in a realistic scenario.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-Thin a-Ge:H Solar Cell with Switchable Absorption Enhancement: Towards Smart Photovoltaic Windows

Götz¹,

Gehrke²,

Meddeb³

et al. 2020

2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Self Cite

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“…This would be beneficial for semitransparent devices. [263] The proof-of-concept for ultrathin SC technology based on a-Ge QW is still at lab-scale and upscaling activities for the development of large-area modules are on-going. [264] In a more general context, the features of QWSCs are typically not only restricted to technological advancement, but can also open a path for interesting physical mechanisms which can be governed by bandgap tuning like hot carriers concept.…”

Section: Bandgap Tuning In Single Junction Sc Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This would be beneficial for semitransparent devices. [ 263 ] The proof‐of‐concept for ultrathin SC technology based on a‐Ge QW is still at lab‐scale and upscaling activities for the development of large‐area modules are on‐going. [ 264 ]…”

Section: State Of the Art Of Tunable Solar Cell Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tunable Photovoltaics: Adapting Solar Cell Technologies to Versatile Applications

Meddeb

Götz‐Köhler

Neugebohrn

et al. 2022

Advanced Energy Materials

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solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass, to enable a steady mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing the planetary climate change and global warming. [5][6][7] Additionally, due to the economic development and the worldwide urbanization, a continuous rise of the global energy consumption across all key sectors, that is, power, heating, industry, and transport is occurring. This is expressed by an increase in the annual global electricity demand by 4.5% in 2021 corresponding to additional 1000 TWh. [4] Hence, strict criteria for the selection of competitive and abundant energy alternatives are imposed, requiring high yield at affordable prices. [8] The share of total renewables power generation excluding hydropower exceeded 3000 TWh in 2020, corresponding to almost 12% of the global electricity generation. [3] Considering an effective synergy between various sustainable energy candidates, solar photovoltaics (PV) have demonstrated great capabilities that can satisfy the requirements in the pathway towards 100% renewable electricity. [9][10][11][12] Owing to the research and development activities over the last decades, the power conversion efficiencies of solar cells (SC) have skyrocketed with a prolonged operation lifetime (>15 years) and a drastic plummeting in manufacturing costs (global average module selling price below $0.25 per W). [6,[13][14][15] The rapid universal deployment of PV resulted in a contribution of about 3.4% in the worldwide electricity generation in 2020. [3] Presently, the global installed PV capacity is approaching 1 TW and it is envisioned to reach ≈10 TW by 2030 and 30 to 70 TW by 2050. [16] Interestingly, along with massive electricity production using conventional solar power plants and rooftop solar panels, ancillary concepts of PV offer new strategies for supplying modern systems in versatile applications. [17][18][19] Moreover, diverse functionalities beyond solar energy harvesting can be afforded by adaptive PV, including aesthetic appearance, visual comfort and thermal management. [17,18,20,21] The distributed nature and the ubiquitous accessibility of multifunctional PV products are substantial features of solar PV in contrast to other renewable energies. However, traditional SCs dominating the market impose intrinsic optoelectronic and thermomechanical limitations, that prohibit their multifunctional utilization. To overcome these drawbacks, novel functional materials and innovative device architecture Solar photovoltaics (PV) offer viable and sustainable solutions to satisfy the growing energy demand and to meet the pressing climate targets. The deployment of conventional PV technologies is one of the major contributors of the ongoing energy transition in electricity power sector. However, the diversity of PV paradigms can open different opportunities for supplying modern systems in a wide range of terrestrial, marine, and aerospace applications. Such ubiquitous and versatile applications necessitate the development of PV technologies with customized desig...

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Novel semi‐transparent solar cell based on ultrathin multiple Si/Ge quantum wells

Meddeb

Götz‐Köhler

Flathmann

et al. 2022

Progress in Photovoltaics

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Unlike conventional opaque solar cells, semi-transparent solar cells enable simultaneous electricity generation and light transmission. Along with solar energy harvesting, the offered multiple functionalities of these technologies, such as aesthetic appearance, visual comfort and thermal management, open diverse integration opportunities into versatile technological applications. In this work, the first demonstration of a novel semi-transparent solar cell based on ultrathin hydrogenated amorphous Si/Ge multiple quantum wells (MQW) is reported. Through optoelectronic modelling, the advantages of ultrathin MQW as photoactive material to overcome the intrinsic limitations of thin (20 nm) and ultrathin (2.5 nm) single quantum well (SQW) counterparts are explained. This allows extra degree of freedom for both optical design and bandgap engineering. Mainly, the multiplication of the QWs number in a periodic configuration, taking advantage of effective synergy between electronic and photonic confinements, leads to an improvement of photocurrent, while preserving high voltage and fill factor and ensuring significant transparency. The MQW new concept yields a boost in power conversion efficiency up to 3.4% and a considerable average visible transmission of about 33%. A light utilization efficiency above 1.1% is achieved, which can be considered as one of the highest among inorganic semitransparent solar cell technologies. The successful demonstration of ultrathin semitransparent Si/Ge MQW solar cells indicates the promising integration potential of this emerging photovoltaic technology for supplying systems in relevant applications such as in buildings, vehicles and greenhouses.

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Ultrathin Nano-Absorbers in Photovoltaics: Prospects and Innovative Applications

Cited by 17 publications

References 50 publications

Ultra-Thin a-Ge:H Solar Cell with Switchable Absorption Enhancement: Towards Smart Photovoltaic Windows

Ultra-Thin a-Ge:H Solar Cell with Switchable Absorption Enhancement: Towards Smart Photovoltaic Windows

Tunable Photovoltaics: Adapting Solar Cell Technologies to Versatile Applications

Novel semi‐transparent solar cell based on ultrathin multiple Si/Ge quantum wells

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