Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 3)

Following the 2nd release of the “Emerging PV reports,” the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic devices in diverse emerging photovoltaic research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2021. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, e.g., power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, e.g., the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 3rd installment of the “Emerging PV reports” extends the scope toward triple junction solar cells

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 3)

Following the 2nd release of the “Emerging PV reports,” the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic devices in diverse emerging photovoltaic research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2021. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, e.g., power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, e.g., the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 3rd installment of the “Emerging PV reports” extends the scope toward triple junction solar cells

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 2)

Following the 1st release of the “Emerging photovoltaic (PV) reports”, the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic devices in diverse emerging photovoltaic research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2020. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, e.g., power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application and are put into perspective using, e.g., the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 2nd instalment of the “Emerging PV reports” extends the scope toward tandem solar cells and presents the current state-of-the-art in tandem solar cell performance for various material combinations.</p

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 1)

Emerging photovoltaics (PVs) focus on a variety of applications complementing large scale electricity generation. Organic, dye‐sensitized, and some perovskite solar cells are considered in building integration, greenhouses, wearable, and indoor applications, thereby motivating research on flexible, transparent, semitransparent, and multi‐junction PVs. Nevertheless, it can be very time consuming to find or develop an up‐to‐date overview of the state‐of‐the‐art performance for these systems and applications. Two important resources for recording research cells efficiencies are the National Renewable Energy Laboratory chart and the efficiency tables compiled biannually by Martin Green and colleagues. Both publications provide an effective coverage over the established technologies, bridging research and industry. An alternative approach is proposed here summarizing the best reports in the diverse research subjects for emerging PVs. Best performance parameters are provided as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, e.g., the Shockley–Queisser limit. In all cases, the reported data correspond to published and/or properly described certified results, with enough details provided for prospective data reproduction. Additionally, the stability test energy yield is included as an analysis parameter among state‐of‐the‐art emerging PVs

Electroluminiscencia de módulos de silicio policristalino

Se presenta la técnica de electroluminiscencia que permite realizar análisis cualitativos de la condición del módulo fotovoltaico, aplicada a la caracterización de módulos fotovoltaicos de silicio bajo distintas condiciones. Se detallan las ventajas y el rango de aplicabilidad de la técnica en dependencia del entorno en el cual se haga, las especificaciones técnicas de la cámara de electroluminiscencia y la metodología que se llevó a cabo para las caracterizaciones. Se presentan los resultados de la implementación de la técnica tanto en condiciones de laboratorio como en un sistema fotovoltaico instalado sobre cubierta. Como resultado de la aplicación de la técnica de electroluminiscencia se detectaron defectos como celdas con importantes roturas y micro-fracturas, desconexiones entre celdas; corrosión y fallas a lo largo de los contactos metálicos del módulo ocasionados por tensiones en los puntos de soldadura. Las micro-fracturas y las roturasson mucho más frecuentes que el resto de fallas detectadas mediante la electroluminiscencia

One-Step Formation of Plasmonic Cu Nanodomains in p-Type Cu 2 O Matrix Films for Enhanced Photoconversion of n-ZnO/p-Cu 2 O Heterojunctions

International audiencePlasmonic Cu nanoparticles were in-situ grown into a Cu2O semiconductor matrix by using reactive magnetron sputtering and adjusting the amount of oxygen available during the synthesis in order to prevent the oxidation of part of copper atoms landed on the film surface. Varying only the oxygen flowrate (OFR) and using a single Cu target it was possible to observe the evolution in the simultaneous formation of metallic Cu and Cu2O phases for oxygen-poor conditions. Suchformation is accompanied by the development of the surface plasmon band (SPB) corresponding to Cu, as evidenced by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The bandgap values of the elaborated composites containing embedded Cu plasmonic nanodomains were lower than the bandgap of single-phased Cu2O films, likely due to the higher defect density associated to the nanocrystalline nature of films, promoted by the presence of metallic Cu. The resistivity of the thin films increased with more oxidative deposition conditions and was associated to an increase in Cu2O/Cu ratio and smaller and more isolated Cu particles, as evidenced by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Photoconversion devices based on the studied nanocomposites were characterized by I-V and spectral photocurrent measurements, showing an increase in the photocurrent density under light illumination as consequence of the plasmonic particles excitation leading to hot carrier’s injection in the nearby ZnO and Cu2O semiconductors

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 4)

Following the 3rd release of the “Emerging PV reports”, the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic (e-PV) devices in diverse e-PV research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2022. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, such as power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, for example, the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 4th installment of the “Emerging PV reports” discusses the “PV emergence” classification with respect to the “PV technology generations” and “PV research waves” and highlights the latest device performance progress in multijunction and flexible photovoltaics. Additionally, Dale-Scarpulla's plots of efficiency-effort in terms of cumulative academic publication count are also introduced.</p

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 4)

Following the 3rd release of the “Emerging PV reports” , the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic (e-PV) devices in diverse e-PV research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2022. Updated graphs, tables and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, such as power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, for example, the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 4th installment of the “Emerging PV reports” discusses the “PV emergence” classification with respect to the “PV technology generations” and “PV research waves” and highlights the latest device performance progress in multijunction and flexible photovoltaics. Additionally, Dale-Scarpulla’s plots of efficiency-effort in terms of cumulative academic publication count are also introduced

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 4)

Following the 3rd release of the “Emerging PV reports”, the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic (e-PV) devices in diverse e-PV research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2022. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, such as power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, for example, the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 4th installment of the “Emerging PV reports” discusses the “PV emergence” classification with respect to the “PV technology generations” and “PV research waves” and highlights the latest device performance progress in multijunction and flexible photovoltaics. Additionally, Dale-Scarpulla's plots of efficiency-effort in terms of cumulative academic publication count are also introduced.</p

Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 3)

Following the 2nd release of the “Emerging PV reports,” the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic devices in diverse emerging photovoltaic research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2021. Updated graphs, tables, and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, e.g., power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, e.g., the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 3rd installment of the “Emerging PV reports” extends the scope toward triple junction solar cells