Progress in Photovoltaics最新文献

The efficiency gap between perovskite (PVSK) solar sub-modules (size ≥200 cm²) and lab scale cells (size ˂1 cm²) is up to 36%. Moreover, the few attempts present in the literature used lab-scale techniques in a glove-box environment, reducing its compatibility for further product industrialization. Here, we report a PVSK sub-module (total area 320 cm², aperture area 201 cm², 93% geometrical fill factor [GFF]) fabricated in ambient air by hybrid meniscus coating techniques assisted by air and green antisolvent quenching method. To suppress nonradiative recombination losses, improve carrier extraction and control the PVSK growth on such a large surface, we adopted phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) passivation and PVSK solvent addiction strategies. The high homogeneous and reproducible layers guarantee an efficiency of 16.13% (7% losses with respect to the small area cell and zero losses with respect to the mini-modules) and a stability of more than 3000 h according to International Summit on Organic PV Stability, dark storage/shelf life in ambient (ISOS-D-1). The sustainability of used methods and materials is demonstrated by the life cycle assessment. The scale-up operation allows for strong impact mitigation in all the environmental categories and more efficient consumption of the resources. Finally, the economic assessment shows a strong cost reduction scaling from mini- to sub-module (about 40%).

Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the most effective and necessary energy sources to mitigate climate change. The broad electrification scenario projects the PV market to grow from 1 TW in 2022 to over 63 TW in 2050. While increasing PV production will significantly reduce the emission intensity of electricity generation, it is still important to minimise the overall environmental impact of such a large industry. In this study, we investigated the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a 30 MW PV plant using a life cycle assessment (LCA). Based on the LCA, we propose a roadmap to reduce emissions from PV manufacturing and deployment. Decarbonising significant factors like aluminium and concrete production or the electricity demand to produce PV modules can greatly reduce the carbon budget related to PV production. Our study shows that the global warming potential (GWP) per kWh can be reduced from 11.2 to 1.7 g CO₂-eq/kWh over the lifetime of the PV system (85% reduction). Using the aspects to decarbonise PV production, the roadmap is demonstrated. The cumulative GWP to reach 63 TW is initially estimated to be 44 Gt CO₂-eq. Our decarbonising roadmap demonstrated that such significance can be reduced by over 37 Gt CO₂-eq, equivalent to a whole year emission in year 2022.

Power density and efficiency typically dominate design approaches for power electronics. However, cost optimality is in no way guaranteed by these strategies. A design framework that minimizes the (i) levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), (ii) collection of light, and (iii) irradiance of the generation system is proposed as a solution to this flaw. From an improvement of the swarm behavior optimization model to get a minimum LCOE of solar panel, we design to optimize height, tilt angle, azimuth angle, and some parameters to solve the objective function and LCOE improvement problem to obtain the optimal design problem. In adaptive salp swarm optimization (ASSO), this change's proposed model producer swarm behavior is regarded as an adaptive process that keeps the algorithm from prematurely converging during exploration. The proposed algorithm's performance was confirmed using benchmark test functions, and the results were compared with those of the salp swarm optimization (SSO) and other efficient optimization algorithms. LCOE condition as far as “land-related cost” and “module-related cost” demonstrates that the optimal design of bifacial farms is determined by the interaction of these parameters. This proposed model can be used to evaluate visibility on building surfaces that are suitable for mining applications like crushing. Experimentation results show Minimum LCOE AS 0.05 (€/Kw)minimum irradiance and collection light as 336.23(w/m²) and 83.02%n proposed framework model. The swarm optimization method is contrasted with the optimal parameters derived from a conventional solver.

The stability of molybdenum (Mo) back contact and Cu (In_xGa_(1-x)Se₂(CIGS) absorber layers interfaces relevant for CIGS-based solar cells was investigated using accelerated aging test, considering humidity and temperature daily variations as well as atmospheric pollution. Different configurations of sputtered Mo and co-evaporated CIGS layers deposited on soda lime glass with or without ALD-Al₂O₃ encapsulation were investigated. They were exposed for 14 days to 24 h-cycles of temperature and humidity (25°C at 85% RH and 80°C at 30% RH) with and without solution of the pollutant salts (NaCl, Na₂SO₄, and (NH₄)₂SO₄) deposited as drops on the sample to mimic marine, industrial, and rural atmospheric conditions, respectively. ALD-Al₂O₃ encapsulation failed to protect the samples against the pollutants regardless of configuration. The evolution of the films was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Unencapsulated Mo degraded forming a mixture of oxides (MoO₂, MoO₃, and Mo₈O₂₃). Unencapsulated CIGS on glass substrates was not altered, whereas dark spots were visible at the surface of Mo/CIGS configurations. Further characterization evidenced that even though the Mo layer was buried, its corrosion products were formed on top of CIGS. Mo corrosion products and copper selenide, Cu_2-xSe, were identified in dark spots. Their formation and evolution were further investigated by in situ Raman spectroscopy. A speculative mechanism explaining the interplay of molybdenum and CIGS layers during aging is proposed. In place of Mo oxides, detected on the open surface of bare Mo, soluble molybdates are expected in confined environment where alkalinity locally increases. The molybdate ions may then react with sodium ions accumulated at the grain boundaries of CIGS, forming Na₂MoO₄. The latter could form Na₂Mo₂O₇ during drying because of pH decrease by atmospheric CO₂ adsorption. High pH in confined zone, combined with relatively high temperature, is also believed to lixiviate gallium into soluble tetragallates [Ga (OH)₄]²⁻, which could precipitate into Ga₂O₃ with pH decrease leaving Ga depleted Cu_2-xSe.

Utilization of marine photovoltaic energy is primarily focused on surface harvesting with limited photovoltaic cell implementations in submarine environments. Potential applications include marine wildlife telemetry devices, autonomous underwater vehicles, or remote sensing assets. In these applications, understanding the power at depth is critical, but there has yet to be a long-term study of cell performance in a realistic marine environment that spans time, geographic location, and depth. In this paper, we present photovoltaic assessments carried out by devices mounted to adult female northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) during their spring migrations in the Pacific Ocean with deployment times between 76 and 107 days. Encompassing a large geographic area between Santa Cruz, California, and the Aleutian Islands of Alaska during their migrations, elephant seal behavior allows for repeated depth profiles each day, making them an ideal host for subsurface power assessments. This paper presents the first longitudinal study of photovoltaic cell performance in the marine environment that spans location, time, and depth. This work discusses the calibration, data time alignment, and power calculations of these oceanic deployments. Deployment results, including power results and energy predictions from the data record, are presented up to 22 m in depth. We highlight how the recorded power data of these cells compares to previously published results and how depth impacts subsurface power and energy harvesting.

For photovoltaic (PV) applications, the earth-abundant and non-hazardous Kesterite Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) is a possible substitute for chalcopyrite copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). This research offers insight into the most innovative method for improving the performance of Kesterite solar cells (SCs) by using CuSbS₂ back surface field (BSF) and Ag₂S and In₂Se₃ as buffer layers, focuses on aligning energy bands, reducing non-radiative recombination, and improving open-circuit voltage (V_oc). The proposed cells are Ni/CuSbS₂/CZTS/In₂Se₃/ITO/Al and Ni/CuSbS₂/CZTS/Ag₂S/ITO/Al by adding interfaces. The optimized CZTS SCs with In₂Se₃ achieve a short-circuit current density (J_sc) of 30.274 mA/cm², fill factor (FF) of 89.15%, power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 31.67%, and V_oc of 1.173 V. With the Ag₂S buffer layer, PCE is 31.02%, FF is 88.61%, J_sc is 30.245 mA/cm², and V_oc is 1.157 V. These results depict the potential of CZTS-based SCs with improved performance compared with conventional structures.

In this research, we analyzed the impact that the optical characteristics of dielectric surface passivation and antireflection coating schemes have on the performance of passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) silicon solar cells. We employed wafer ray tracer (WRT) and automate for simulation of heterostructure (AFORS-HET) simulations, as well as experimental characterization of fabricated thin film coatings. We investigated three distinct front surface morphologies: planar surface, upright pyramids, and inverted pyramids. Using WRT, we calculated the photogeneration current densities (J_G) for PERC devices with three schemes: (i) SiN_x/AlO_x as antireflection coating and passivation stacks on both the front and rear sides, (ii) SiN_x antireflection coating on the front side and AlO_x passivation layer on the rear side, and (iii) SiN_x/AlO_x as antireflection coating and passivation stacks on the front side with an AlO_x passivation layer on the rear side. Following simulation with optimal J_G, two schemes are experimentally evaluated: PECVD SiN_x (70 nm) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) AlO_x (15 and 25 nm). We confirmed the growth effects and optical properties using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, effective lifetime, and refractive index measurements. The most favorable electrical properties were obtained with SiN_x (70 nm, front) and AlO_x (25 nm, front and rear), where the AlO_x can be deposited via ALD bifacially on a single step, minimizing processing while maintaining passivation performance. Finally, we used AFORS-HET to simulate the maximum performance of PERC bearing such films. The results showed a V_oc = 0.688 V, J_sc = 41.42 mA/cm², FF = 84%, and packing conversion efficiency (PCE) = 24.12% as the optimal solar cell performance values.

In contrast to homogeneous mechanical load according to IEC 61215, photovoltaic modules in the field are mainly exposed to inhomogeneous loads like snow or wind. This paper deals with such inhomogeneous loads using computational fluid dynamics and finite element method simulations. Temperatures different to room temperature and the choice of encapsulates have significant influences on the thermomechanics of a photovoltaic module in case of snow load. Polyolefin is the encapsulant with the lowest storage modulus and has the lowest overall stress in solar cells and glass down to −30°C. Furthermore, with colder temperatures, the first principal stress decreases in solar cells but increases in the glass. For wind loads, the impact of module orientation, wind direction, module inclination angle, and wind speed is analyzed. A crosswind scenario is found to be most critical. Additionally, as a rule of thumb, higher module inclination angles result in higher stresses. Finally, general thermomechanical rules are extracted allowing for a deeper understanding of the underlying effects and therefore help to build more robust modules in the future.

The Cu (ln_1-xGa_x)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cell technology is a potentially high-efficient approach with unique properties compared with silicon photovoltaic, like flexible lightweight substrates and different colored designs. So far, the full potential of the transparent conductive oxide layers has not been exploited yet as no front contacts are applied, resulting in significant losses from the cell-to-module level. In this study, Ag front contacts are applied by parallel dispensing onto indium tin oxide layers of silicon heterojunction substrates and CIGS substrates. Subsequently, a thermally curing process is carried out to form the conductive contacts. The curing conditions are varied between 200°C ≥ T_c ≥ 100°C combined with 20 min ≥ t_c ≥ 1.5 min. The study aims to determine the curing parameters enabling low-resistivity contacts by using low-temperature curing Ag paste and ultralow-temperature curing Ag paste. The lateral electrode resistance and the contact resistivity of printed electrodes are measured. The results of simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (pastes) and microstructure analysis of printed electrodes are used to explain the electrical parameters of the printed electrodes. In general, higher curing temperatures and longer curing durations encourage the sintering and densification process of the applied electrodes resulting in low-resistivity contacts. Contact resistivities below ρ_c,TLM < 5 mΩ·cm² and lateral electrode resistance of R_lateral ≥ 17 Ω m⁻¹ are obtained for different paste systems. However, optimal curing conditions of low-temperature curing pastes can cause thermal damage to the CIGS device. Therefore, ultralow-temperature curing pastes seem to be promising candidates for front contact metallization of CIGS substrates.