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Projeto de investigação
Highly Efficient and Flexible Thin Film Crystalline Silicon - Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells
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Publicações
Next-Generation Solar-Powering
Publication . Santos, Ivan M.; Alexandre, Miguel; Vicente, António T.; Teixeira, Cristina; Almeida, Eva; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Águas, Hugo; Mendes, Manuel J.; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; UNINOVA-Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias; Wiley
Escalating environmental and energy supply concerns, coupled with an increasing interest in space exploration, are driving the development of advanced energy harvesting systems and the adoption of cutting-edge photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Photonics allows precise light manipulation in a multitude of ways, empowering PV with the means to tackle the multifaceted challenges inherent to the harsh space environment, with great potential to concomitantly spin off to on-Earth systems, prioritizing efficiency and reliability. This review thus synthesizes the key insights from the latest experimental and simulation R&D outcomes to inform the design and implementation of advanced photonic strategies for various PV applications. The state-of-the-art performance and foreground of photonic-managed thick- (single-junction crystalline silicon, c-Si, and perovskite-on-silicon tandem) and thin-film (hydrogenated amorphous silicon, a-Si:H, and perovskite) PV devices are assessed by comparison with theoretical ideal light-trapping scenarios (single-, double-pass, and Lambertian absorption models), looking also at the potential of photonic coolers as an emergent platform for effective thermal management. Finally, this work examines novel photonic approaches for spectrum modification, emphasizing the relevance of illumination-tailoring for outer space systems.
Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
Publication . Panigrahi, Shrabani; Badr, Hussein O.; Deuermeier, Jonas; Jana, Santanu; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Barsoum, Michel W.; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); ACS - American Chemical Society
The optimization of nonradiative recombination losses through interface engineering is key to the development of efficient, stable, and hysteresis-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, for the first time in solar cell technology, we present a novel approach to interface modification by employing one-dimensional lepidocrocite (henceforth referred to as 1DL) TiO2-based nanofilaments, NFs, between the mesoporous TiO2 (mp TiO2) and halide perovskite film in PSCs to improve both the efficiency and stability of the devices. The 1DLs can be easily produced on the kilogram scale starting with cheap and earth-abundant precursor powders, such as TiC, TiN, TiB2, etc., and a common organic base like tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Notably, the 1DL deposition influenced perovskite grain development, resulting in a larger grain size and a more compact perovskite layer. Additionally, it minimized trap centers in the material and reduced charge recombination processes, as confirmed by the photoluminescence analysis. The overall promotion led to an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 13 ± 3.2 to 16 ± 1.8% after interface modification. The champion PCE for the 1DL-containing devices is 17.82%, which is higher than that of 16.17% for the control devices. The passivation effect is further demonstrated by evaluating the stability of PSCs under ambient conditions, wherein the 1DL-containing PSCs maintain ∼87% of their initial efficiency after 120 days. This work provides not only cost-effective, novel, and promising materials for cathode interface engineering but also an effective approach to achieve high-efficiency PSCs with long-term stability devoid of encapsulation.
Understanding the Potential of Light Absorption in Dots-in-Host Semiconductors
Publication . Alexandre, Miguel; Águas, Hugo; Fortunato, Elvira; Martins, Rodrigo; Mendes, Manuel J.; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; UNINOVA-Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias; ACS - American Chemical Society
The outstanding physical properties of dots-in-host (QD@Host) hetero semiconductors demand detailed methods to fundamentally understand the best routes to optimize their potentialities for different applications. In this work, a 4-band k.p-based method was developed for rock-salt quantum dots (QDs) that describes the complete optical properties of arbitrary QD@Host systems, trailblazing the way for the full optoelectronic analysis of quantum-structured solar cells. Starting with the determination of the QD bandgap and validation against well-established literature results, the electron transition rate is then computed and analyzed against the main system parameters. This is followed by a multiparameter optimization, considering intermediate band solar cells as a promising application, where the best QD configuration was determined, together with the corresponding QD@Host absorption spectrum, in view of attaining the theoretical maximum efficiency (∼50%) of this photovoltaic technology. The results show the creation of pronounced sub-bandgap absorption due to the electronic transitions from/to the quantum-confined states, which enables a much broader exploitation of the sunlight spectrum.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2020
Número da atribuição
PTDC/CTM-REF/1008/2020