Solar RRL最新文献

Lanthanum iron oxide (LaFeO₃) exhibits strong ultraviolet (UV) absorption, making its photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance highly dependent on the spectral overlap between illumination and its absorption profile. In this work, the PEC behavior of LaFeO₃ thin films was investigated under two illumination sources: a xenon arc lamp with broadband emission, including UV photons, and a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp with negligible UV contribution. The structural and optoelectronic properties of the films were tuned by varying the number of spin-coated layers, and charge carrier dynamics were analyzed to quantify recombination rates and carrier lifetimes. PEC measurements were further optimized using O₂-saturated electrolytes, considering the catalytic role of LaFeO₃ in oxygen reduction. Under xenon arc lamp illumination with O₂ purging, the photocurrent density initially reached ∼ 0.58 mA cm⁻² and stabilized at ∼ 0.39 mA cm⁻² after 3 h, significantly outperforming other illumination and environmental conditions. These results highlight the critical role of illumination spectra and electrolyte environment in modulating charge separation and transport, offering guidelines for enhancing the practical PEC performance of LaFeO₃ based photoelectrodes.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as promising next-generation photovoltaics, offering high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low-cost potential. The properties of their internal interfaces are critical determinants for device performance of both PCE and long-term stability. This review focuses on the five core functions of interfacial layers including: (1) optimizing energy level alignment to facilitate efficient charge transport, (2) passivating defects to suppress nonradiative recombination, (3) regulating carrier dynamics to enhance charge utilization, (4) inhibiting ion migration to improve structural stability, and (5) forming environmental barriers to prevent detrimental substance exchange. We systematically discuss these functions across four key interfaces in standard layered PSCs: the transparent conductive oxide/electron transport layer (ETL), the ETL/perovskite, the perovskite/hole transport layer (HTL), and the HTL/top electrode. We emphasize the synergistic optimization of these interfaces is paramount for achieving devices with high efficiency and robust stability. Finally, we outline future research directions, highlighting the need for holistic multi-interface engineering, the development of adaptive materials for stability, and the simplification of fabrication processes for scalable production. A concerted effort toward these goals will advance PSCs toward commercialization, fulfilling the dual requirements of high performance and long-term stability in an environmentally benign and cost-effective manner.

Thin-Film Solar Cells

In article number 2500699, Randy J. Ellingson, Yanfa Yan, Zhaoning Song, and co-workers explore the proton radiation hardness of emerging antimony chalcogenide thin film solar cells. The devices exhibit high remaining values of photovoltaic characteristic parameters after exposure to a high displacement-damage dose. End-of-life simulations highlight the potential of antimony chalcogenide solar cells for space power applications in high-proton-exposure environments.

Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells are known for their remarkable radiation tolerance, making them promising candidates for space applications. While silver (Ag) incorporation has been reported to enhance absorber quality, its role in radiation-induced defect formation and recovery dynamics remains insufficiently explored. In this study, a comparative investigation was conducted using CIGS absorber layers with and without Ag incorporation. Both types of devices were subjected to proton irradiation to simulate space radiation conditions, followed by heat-light soaking (HLS) treatments to assess defect recovery and device stability. The results reveal that Ag incorporation effectively suppresses the formation of selenium vacancies (V_Se) and the associated V_Se–V_Cu defect complexes. After HLS, defect states shift from deep levels to shallower ones or below detection, with significant recovery in carrier lifetime and radiative intensity. Thermal energy heals displacement damage, while light promotes charge-state transitions of V_Se–V_Cu, leading to increased carrier concentration. Enhanced thermal conductivity and photoresponse in Ag-incorporated samples further amplify recovery, enabling irradiated devices to retain up to 139% of their initial efficiency. These findings reveal a silver lining for space solar cells: Ag not only resists radiation damage but actively facilitates healing.

The exciton binding energy (E_b) is recognized as a pivotal parameter governing charge separation in polymeric photocatalysts. Reducing E_b in polymers enhances carrier generation, thereby boosting photocatalytic activity. Rationally constructing donor–acceptor (D–A) architectures in heptazine-based polymers offers an effective strategy to overcome intrinsic excitonic limitations. In this work, CN_x (x = 0.015, 0.025, 0.05) materials with intramolecular D–A configurations were developed by integrating electron-donating units with heptazine acceptor motifs. The optimized material CN_0.025 exhibits a 29% reduction in E_b (97 → 69 meV) and extended visible-light absorption, attributable to enhanced π-conjugation and modulated electronic structures. Remarkably, under visible-light irradiation, CN_0.025 achieves 97.7% degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (10 ppm) within 50 min. Moreover, CN_x exhibits a 29.8-fold higher CO yield than pure g-C₃N₄ in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Electrochemical photocurrent measurements reveal a remarkable enhancement in the photocurrent response of CN_0.025 relative to g-C₃N₄, which suggests more efficient exciton dissociation and increased carrier availability at the catalytic surface for subsequent redox reactions. This work establishes a paradigm for exciton dissociation in polymeric photocatalysts through engineered D–A nanoarchitectures.

In this work, the effects of luminescent coupling (LC) on the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of perovskite-silicon tandem (PST) solar cells are quantified by means of monochromatic transient photocurrent measurements and comprehensive optoelectronic simulations that take into account both optical and electrical coupling of the subcells. It is shown that, at short wavelengths, a similar response results from both LC and silicon bottom-cell shunts. The two contributions can be discriminated and quantified based on bias voltage and light intensity-dependent measurements. Such measurements were conducted on state-of-the-art PST cells and agree well with the behavior predicted by the simulations. For the case of polychromatic EQE simulations, a quenching of the LC effects with decreasing concentration of mobile ions is found, which is explained in terms of ion-modulated recombination via bulk defects.

Developing visible-light-responsive photocatalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production. In this study, a CdCO₃-integrated 2D/2D g-C₃N₄/Co–Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) S-scheme heterostructure was designed to achieve efficient charge separation and enhanced light utilization. X-ray photoelectron spectrocopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance analyses confirmed the formation of an S-scheme junction between g-C₃N₄ and Co–Al LDH, while photocurrent and photoluminescence studies revealed improved charge mobility and reduced recombination. The incorporation of CdCO₃ nanoparticles as a cocatalyst further accelerated interfacial electron transfer and strengthened redox activity. Consequently, the optimized heterostructure achieved a 16.1-fold increase in hydrogen evolution compared with pure g-C₃N₄, demonstrating a strong synergistic effect between S-scheme charge migration and cocatalyst-induced modulation. The structure also exhibited excellent stability under visible-light irradiation. This work presents an effective strategy for constructing advanced multijunction photocatalysts with engineered interfaces, offering valuable insight for next-generation solar-to-hydrogen conversion systems.

Antimony halide perovskites (AHPs) are promising materials for the development of environmentally friendly semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSCs). However, the poor device performance due to sub-optimal film quality and structure-induced defects in lead-free AHPs remains a challenge for their potential commercialization. Here, we have addressed this issue by incorporating Cs₃Sb₂Br₉ quantum dots (QDs) in lead-free Cs₃Sb₂I₉-based ST-PSCs and demonstrated that Cs₃Sb₂Br₉ QDs passivation in these ST-PSCs can lead to a three-fold enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and −3% increase in average visible transmittance. The higher performance is attributed to the better film formation by controlling crystallization and reducing nonradiative recombination by suppressing the defect states. Our study provides an effective defect passivation approach to develop stable and environmentally friendly ST-PSCs.

The bottom solar cell (BSC) plays a pivotal role in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSC), not only contributing to the total energy output but also influencing the perovskite formation with its surface properties when used as a substrate. A promising BSC is the TOPCon² cell concept, featuring two full area tunnel oxide passivating contacts (TOPCon). In this study we explore their application in a fully textured tandem device, using the hybrid deposition method for the perovskite top cell processing tailored for compatibility with the industry-standard texture. We systematically investigate different TOPCon² BSC designs, including p- and n-type base material, as well as planar and textured p-TOPCon rear side morphologies. Comparable implied open-circuit voltages (iV_OC) were achieved with both TOPCon² and silicon heterojunction (SHJ) reference BSCs. With their integration into TSCs, efficiencies up to 30.6% are demonstrated for the first time on TOPCon² bottom cells with an industrial sized random pyramid front side texture. An in-depth loss analysis of this newly developed TOPCon- and the well-established baseline SHJ-based TSC demonstrates no fundamental difference in perovskite top cell formation and performance, which paves the way for the application of TOPCon BSCs for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells that are more established in the industry.

Bulky organic spacers are widely employed to synthetize quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) metal halide perovskites (MHPs), which display enhanced stability with respect to three-dimensional (3D) MHPs. The chemical nature and size of the bulky spacers play a key role in determining the performance of the solar cells by controlling the orientation of the octahedral layers and the charge transport. This work investigates how π-conjugation versus nonconjugation in bulky spacers impacts the structure and properties of quasi-2D MHPs and their photovoltaic performance in lead halide perovskite solar cells. Thus, diammonium spacers with related chemical structures and based on diphenylacetylene units (1, 2) or biphenyl flanked with alkyne moieties (3) are synthesized and investigated in comparison with the nonconjugated 4,4′-ethylenedianiline (ET) spacer (SP). Quasi-2D Dion–Jacobson MHPs are fabricated with a nominal n = 5, i.e., blocks of five octahedral layers are separated by the organic spacers and a chemical composition of SP(FA_0.9Cs_0.1)₄Pb₅I₁₆ (SP = ET, 1, 2, or 3). The preferential orientation of the octahedral layers was studied by X-ray diffraction measurements, revealing better alignment in the quasi-2D MHPs containing the conjugated spacers. Defect concentration was estimated from space-charge limited-current (SCLC) measurements resulting in lower values for the quasi-2D MHPs with the conjugated cations with respect to that prepared with the nonconjugated ET spacer. The lowest defect density was found for the film with the conjugated spacer 1, which is in line with the slower photoluminescence (PL) decay for this sample. The solar cells prepared with the quasi-2D MHPs incorporating the nonconjugated ET spacer display power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of around 11%, while approx. 13% are reached in the devices prepared with the conjugated spacers 1, 2, and 3. Our study demonstrates that the incorporation of conjugation in bulky spacers decreases the defect density and ion mobility leading to higher PCEs.