Solar RRL最新文献

In this study, an innovative approach is developed for fabricating formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI₃) quantum dots (QDs) by substitution of octadecene (ODE). The results showcase the formation of superior-quality FAPbI₃ QD films, boasting enhanced photoluminescence (PL) and transport properties. Specifically, ODE has been replaced with octene (OCE), a shorter linear alpha olefin. Comparisons are drawn between the novel synthesis method and the conventional ODE-based QD films, scrutinizing their optical properties and applicability in QD solar cells. The outcomes highlight distinctions in temperature-dependent PL emission characteristics, revealing an unprecedented absolute PL QY of up to 84%, a notable improvement from the 70% achieved with ODE, along with enhanced transport properties. Furthermore, the performance of both systems in QD solar cells is evaluated for two values of layer thickness, 100 and 200 nm, to investigate the transport properties at the device level. The results exhibit a remarkable improvement from 200% to 150% in average power conversion efficiency (PCE) and consistently higher values for open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density for the OCE-based solar cell compared to an ODE-based counterpart for both thickness values, reaching a striking 6.7% PCE for the best-performing device despite the nonideal conditions.

The advancements in halide perovskite materials, celebrated for their exceptional optoelectronic properties, have not only led to a remarkable increase in the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but also opened avenues for the development of semitransparent devices. Such devices are ideally suited for integration into building facades and for use in tandem solar cell configurations. However, depositing transparent electrodes (TEs) on top of the charge transport layers in PSC poses significant challenges. Physical vapor deposition (PVD), commonly used in the industry to prepare transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) as TEs, can introduce plasma-induced damage during the process, which decreases the efficiency of the final devices. While incorporating a buffer layer is the typical approach to mitigate plasma damage, it also increases the complexity and costs of solar cell fabrication. This perspective focuses on the developments of buffer-free semitransparent PSCs. It highlights the shift away from the typical approach of incorporating a buffer layer. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent research, this work presents successful cases of direct TCO deposition onto transport layers, evaluates scalability and stability, and concludes with recommendations for optimizing PVD processes in the fabrication of buffer-free PSCs.

Solar Water Evaporation

In article number 2400198, Kamran Akbar, Wenliang Zhu, Elisa Moretti, Alberto Vomiero, and co-workers demonstrate low bandgap hydrophilic transition-metal selenite hydrates (based on Ni and Co) as efficient materials for solar water evaporation. The high absorbance (>96 %) in the solar spectral range and excellent hydrophilicity facilitates water transport and evaporation up to 2.34 kg m⁻² h⁻¹.

As the world strives toward its net-zero targets, innovative solutions are required to reduce carbon emissions across all industrial sectors. One approach that can reduce emissions from food production is agrivoltaics—photovoltaic devices that enable the dual-use of land for both agricultural and electrical power-generating purposes. Optimizing agrivoltaics presents a complex systems-level challenge requiring a balance between maximizing crop yields and on-site power generation. This balance necessitates careful consideration of optics (light absorption, reflection, and transmission), thermodynamics, and the efficiency at which light is converted into electricity. Herein, real-world solar insolation and temperature data are used in combination with a comprehensive device-level model to determine the annual power generation of agrivoltaics based on different photovoltaic material choices. It is found that organic semiconductor-based photovoltaics integrated as semitransparent elements of protected cropping environments (advanced greenhouses) have comparable performance to state-of-the-art, inorganic semiconductor-based photovoltaics like silicon. The results provide a solid technical basis for building full, systems-level, technoeconomic models that account for crop and location requirements, starting from the undeniable standpoint of thermodynamics and electro-optical physics.

As a 2D semiconductor material, graphdiyne (GDY) is a promising photocatalyst with excellent carrier mobility, uniform pores, ideal light absorption, and appropriate bandgap structure. Herein, GDY nanosheets are prepared by mechanical ball milling and subsequently tightly bonded to Ni₆MnO₈ by the in situ calcination method. The constructed Ni₆MnO₈/GDY S-scheme heterojunction exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance. Under visible light, with eosin Y as the sensitizer, the hydrogen evolution of the optimized component reaches 1719.2 μmol (g h)⁻¹, representing 3.6 and 9.6 times enhancement in comparison with that of Ni₆MnO₈ and GDY, respectively. The in situ calcination method is thought to play a major role in improving the efficiency of hydrogen evolution, which can enhance the interactions between the materials without significantly reducing the specific surface area of the materials. The presence of an internal electric field in the composite catalyst facilitates the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, an S-scheme heterojunction charge transfer model with Ni₆MnO₈ as the active site for hydrogen precipitation is rationally constructed by in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thereby revealing the migration path of photogenerated carriers. The results provide a new strategy for the construction of GDY-based photocatalytic composite catalysts with exceptional potential for hydrogen generation.

This study examines how photovoltaic (PV) installation parameters—such as tilt angle, azimuth angle, row pitch, height above ground, and albedo impact PV module operating conditions in harsh climates, focusing on irradiance levels and module temperature. It evaluates how these parameters influence degradation rates and the overall lifetime of PV modules. The study correlates variations in module lifetime to lifetime energy generation, economic factors, and environmental impacts. A novel PV optimization strategy is proposed, incorporating lifetime energy yield, levelized cost of electricity, and greenhouse gas emissions, rather than focusing solely on economic metrics. Findings show that installation parameters significantly affect climate stressors and PV module lifetime, making their consideration crucial. For instance, higher tilt angles are recommended to reduce stressor levels and extend the module's lifetime, optimizing energy yield while mitigating losses due to soiling. Height and albedo are identified as particularly sensitive, especially for bifacial modules, where small changes lead to significant differences in lifetime and energy yield. The study highlights an optimal albedo of ≈0.5, aligned with desert sand, suggesting that albedo boosters may not be necessary in desert climates. This approach offers valuable insights for balancing long-term performance, environmental impact, and economic factors in PV system design.

Indoor organic photovoltaics (IOPVs) with tunable absorption spectra and relatively high power conversion efficiency (PCE) have emerged as one of the most promising energy sources for Internet of Things devices, but enhancing the device performance under various directions of indoor illumination is challenging. Herein, it is proposed to combine omnidirectional optical engineering and ternary strategy for achieving high-performance IOPVs. The advantage is taken of a ternary bulk heterojunction (BHJ) with a polymer donor having aligned absorption spectra with the light-emitting diode (LED) spectrum and a guest component that not only blueshifts the near-infrared absorption of the acceptor but also improves electrical and morphological properties of the BHJ. A 2D photonic-structured antireflection coating is further developed to selectively improve the light absorption of IOPVs, leading to a PCE of 29.07% under 1000 lux LED illumination. More importantly, the antireflection coating maintains the initial PCE even when irradiated by light incident at large angles, demonstrating an omnidirectional effectiveness. This weaker angular dependency on light absorption provides practical prospects for future sustainable indoor photovoltaic systems.

Direct epitaxy of III−V materials on Si is a promising approach for highly stable, scalable, and efficient Si-based multijunction solar cells. However, challenges lie in overcoming epitaxial dislocations and residual thermal strain generated by lattice constant and thermal-expansion-coefficient mismatches, respectively. Herein, a 15.2% efficient InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction solar cell with an open-circuit voltage of 2.36 V by using In_0.10Al_0.16Ga_0.74As digital-alloy dislocation filter layers is first demonstrated. The filter layers are utilized in the n-GaAs buffer on Si to reduce threading dislocation density to 4 × 10⁷ cm⁻² while maintaining optical transparency to Si bottom cell. Then, the impacts of threading dislocations and residual tension on InGaP/GaAs/Si cells are systematically investigated by comparing them to the co-grown InGaP/GaAs tandem cells on a native GaAs substrate. Based on the comparative analysis, a strategy to suppress material deformation and defect formation toward 30% efficient InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction solar cells is proposed.