SCAPS Numerical Analysis of Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Utilizing Copper (I) Iodide as Hole Transport Layer

Here, numerical study of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (SSDSSC) with Copper (I) Iodide as a hole transport layer was investigated using SCAPS-1D simulation software. The complete simulated device structures in this project are composed of FTO/TiO2/N719/CuI/Ni. Several key parameters of HTL such as layer thickness, doping concentration, working temperature, and interface defect have been analysed to obtain the highest efficiency for SSDSSC as well as the influence of back contact. The incorporation with various ETLs such as TiO2, ZnO, and SnO2 were also studied. The results show that SSDSSC with back contact yields a better performance due to low HTL thickness compared to without back contact. In addition, it can also be proved that TiO2 as ETL obtained the best efficiency up to 5.6%. Further investigation also found that combining optimized CuI and TiO2 parameters with a perovskite layer would increase cell efficiency to nearly 30%, higher than previously reported devices. The proposed parameter structure may trigger the temptation for the use of CuI as HTL in solar cell application

Effects of exciton-polariton on Mach-Zehnder interference devices

A new optoelectronic device based on excitonpolariton was studied. In particular a Mach-Zehnder interference device fabricated by using a GaAs quantum well was studied. We simulated the output characteristics of Mach-Zehnder interference device by using a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. Then we compared them with the experimental results measured in a low-temperature. After that we obtained the numerical values of electro-optic effect coefficients. Those were as large as 105×10-11 m/V for 4.5 K, while 74×10-11 m/V for 77 K. Therefore this estimation is considerably large, showing 57 (4 K) and 41 (77 K) times larger than conventional KDP crystal. This effect is probably caused by the excitonpolariton effect. Furthermore, we performed a photocurrent experiment to understand the transmitted light phase change characteristics, causing such large electro-optics effect at a comparatively higher temperature. Temperature dependence of photocurrent showed that the absorption edge and exciton peak remained constant up to 77 K, and then shifted to lower energy as the temperature increased. This probably explains how the large electro-optic effect can be obtained at a comparatively high temperature, i.e., 77 K

Impact of Al on ZnO Electron Transport Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells have shown remarkable performance and improvements in terms of solar cell efficiency. The ETL material is one of the important components in perovskite solar cells in conducting electrons to produce current. Here, ZnO was used as ETL material in a perovskite solar cell using the SCAPS 1D simulation software. The ZnO ETL showed poor cell efficiency due to its reaction with the perovskite material. A small amount of Al doped into ZnO was introduced to enhance the physiochemical properties of the ZnO against perovskite materials. Al concentrations were varied between 1 and 4 mol% to observe the effect on cell efficiency. Compared with a conventional ZnO ETL solar cell with 0 mol% Al perovskite, the Al-doped based solar cell showed better performance. Meanwhile, perovskite solar cells with 1 mol% Al-doping and appropriate layer thickness showed the best cell performance in improving the charge transport mechanism, resulting in increased cell efficiency. Thus, the parameters studied can be a guide in the fabrication process

Impact of Al on ZnO Electron Transport Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells have shown remarkable performance and improvements in terms of solar cell efficiency. The ETL material is one of the important components in perovskite solar cells in conducting electrons to produce current. Here, ZnO was used as ETL material in a perovskite solar cell using the SCAPS 1D simulation software. The ZnO ETL showed poor cell efficiency due to its reaction with the perovskite material. A small amount of Al doped into ZnO was introduced to enhance the physiochemical properties of the ZnO against perovskite materials. Al concentrations were varied between 1 and 4 mol% to observe the effect on cell efficiency. Compared with a conventional ZnO ETL solar cell with 0 mol% Al perovskite, the Al-doped based solar cell showed better performance. Meanwhile, perovskite solar cells with 1 mol% Al-doping and appropriate layer thickness showed the best cell performance in improving the charge transport mechanism, resulting in increased cell efficiency. Thus, the parameters studied can be a guide in the fabrication process

Hardware Implementation Of Single Phase Three-Level Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter Using Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation

In this paper a hardware implementation of single-phase cascaded H-bridge three level multilevel inverter (MLI) using sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) is presented. There are a few interesting features of using this configuration, where less component count, less switching losses, and improved output voltage/current waveform. The output of power inverter consists of three form, that is, square wave, modified square wave and pure sine wave. The pure sine wave and modified square wave are more expensive than square wave. The focus paper is to generate a PWM signal which control the switching of MOSFET power semiconductor. The sine wave can be created by using the concept of Schmitt-Trigger oscillator and low-pass filter topology followed by half of the waveform will be eliminated by using the circuit of precision half-wave rectifier. Waveform was inverted with 180º by circuit of inverting op-amp amplifier in order to compare saw-tooth waveform. Two of PWM signal were produced by circuit of PWM and used digital inverter to invert the two PWM signal before this PWM signal will be passed to 2 MOSFET driver and a 3-level output waveform with 45 Hz was produced. As a conclusion, a 3-level output waveform is produced with output voltage and current recorded at 22.5 Vrms and 4.5 Arms. The value of measured resistance is 0.015 Ω that cause voltage drop around 0.043 V. Based on the result obtained, the power for designed inverter is around 100W and efficiency recorded at 75%

Web-based Automatic Monitoring & Scheduling Management of Highland Plantation on Low Ground

This paper proposes an automatic monitoring and scheduling management system for growing highland plants on the low ground. It is hypothesized that the plantation of highland plants on low ground is possible if the basic necessities such as temperature, humidity, lighting and water are monitored and controlled to suit their needs. Basically, this automatic system uses temperature, humidity and light sensor to detect the temperature readings, percentage of relative humidity and light availability respectively. The obtained values are sent to Raspbery Pi and are used for controlling the environment parameters. The desired conditions for the plantation are that the temperature must be below 20 degrees Celsius, the relative humidity must be higher than 60% and the lighting must be sufficient. In case any of the conditions is not achievable, mist spray, peltier and UV light will take respective action to stabilize the condition back to the desired setting. Interestingly, this system allows users to monitor environmental humidity and temperature as well as current activities at the plantation through the website in real time. The results show the system is functioning well since fragile highland plants such as strawberry could survive in normal indoor low ground condition for a fortnight

Optimization of copper(I) thiocyanate as hole transport material for solar cell by scaps-1D numerical analysis

In SSDSSC, various key parameters of CuSCN as HTM were explored using SCAPS-1D simulation software. A layer thickness of 3 µm with a moderate value of interface defect density was obtained yielding 2.56% of PCE in SSDSSC. TiO2 ETM and Ni back contact was found to be the best combination with CuSCN HTM in SSDSSC. An excellent temperature gradient in a range between -0.04%/K and -0.05%/K was demonstrated, showing that the temperature tolerances of the studied devices are encouraging. In addition, PCE as high as 31.31% has been achieved by substituting the N719 dye with a perovskite absorbent of CH3NH3SnI3, and hence exceeding the previously reported PCE value in PSC. Other parameters that have been optimized are retained. Furthermore, the quantum efficiency of such structure has proved that cells with CH3NH3SnI3 absorbent layer can absorb a wider range of the light spectrum, enhancing the power conversion efficiency

Crosswind Monitoring And Detection System At Highway With IoT Features

The term crosswinds are mean the horizontal winds blowing at 90° from the direction of travels with the speed of 12.5 miles/sec. Crosswind could make a trouble when traveling on wet or slippery roads, especially, during heavy rain and thunderstorms. It can make the vehicle overturning when crosswind blows through it. Windsock invisible at night can cause danger to highway users. This problem can increase the risk of being involved in the accident. To overcome this problem, the crosswind detection for direction and speed monitoring system at highway is being introduced. The signal from speed and direction sensor will be processed by controller and transmitted to the cloud. The outputs from the controller will be transmitted to the LCD screen to display the current information of crosswind and give the warning to the road users. LED light will indicate the status of the crosswind. Controller will update the data to the cloud through WiFi module. Data stored in the cloud can be accessed by user using Blynk App. It could help to reduce potential of accident occur, especially, at night for highway user

Investigation Of Copper(I)Thiocyanate (CuSCN) As A Hole Transporting Layer For Perovskite Solar Cells Application

Copper(I) Thiocyanate (CuSCN) is an inorganic hole transporting layer (HTL) used in perovskite solar cells (PSC). This material offers higher stability and reliability compared to conventional HTL. In this work, for depositing CuSCN (inorganic compound) we were using spin coating technique. The annealing temperature of CuSCN is varied in order to analyze the structural and electrical characteristics. The structural characteristics are determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Meanwhile, the electrical characteristic is measured by the I-V characteristics measurement. SEM images show the material surface features such as crystallinity morphology and density. XRD and Raman spectroscopy are used to confirm the coated surface on the ITO substrate is CuSCN. Besides, the I-V characteristic reveals that the conductivity with respect to annealing temperature. As a result, the optimized annealing temperature of CuSCN is 80 °C and showing conductivity of 62.96 S/m. In conclusion, CuSCN has a significant conductivity, hence suitable for the application as the HTL for perovskite solar cells

Segregation of oil palm fruit ripeness using color sensor

Oil palm is an important industry that has contributed to income and support to the economic sector especially for Malaysia and Indonesia. However, most of the equipment in the oil palm industry is still operated manually. This work developed a system to separate bunches of oil palm fruit using color sensors according to maturity level. Fruit color plays a decisive point in determining fruit maturity. Here, a specific threshold point of red green blue (RGB) was obtained for the determination of the maturity level of oil palm fruit. Point values of 150 represent the maturity levels of unripe, under ripe and ripe, respectively. This paper is the first to report the RGB points for use in the development of automated oil palm segregation system in the oil palm plantation industry. Thus, this paper will pave the way in producing an accurate and reliable oil palm separation system, which in turn has a positive effect in reducing human error. In the future, a set of sensors is proposed to detect a bunch of the oil palm fruits. This further can speed up the segregation process and more suitable for adaptation to the industry