Solar RRL最新文献

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are among the most widely used renewable energy sources, with the global capacity expected to grow by 4000 GW by 2030 – mostly from utility-scale projects. While many strategies to improve PV plant performance and efficiency exist, enhancements through optimal cable design and plant layout are often overlooked. Focusing on central inverter architectures, this study aims to investigate the impact of minor design changes on direct current (DC) string and sub-array cables in PV systems, and the resulting impact on yield, power loss, and capital expenditure. A base case scenario PV plant is defined, and nine design variations are assessed, incorporating modifications to equipment selection and placement, inter-tracker corridor widths, and cable sizes. For each scenario, DC cable layouts are developed, and the associated cable costs, losses, and yield impacts are calculated. Results show that equipment selection and placement have the most significant influence on cable cost and electrical performance. While increasing cable size reduces power losses, the associated capital cost potentially outweighs the energy yield benefits. This study highlights the importance of an iterative design during early project stages to balance financial return and technical performance, providing a practical framework for evaluating trade-offs in PV plant design.

The perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are advancing toward commercialization, with the development of large-area modules serving as a critical prerequisite. The continuous production of perovskite solar modules (PSMs) needs more time for film deposition and involves more complex sample transfer operations compared with small-area perovskite fabrication, thus requiring broadening the process window. Here, we proposed a custom-tailored solvent engineering strategy to broaden the prevacuum-quenching interval window for achieving efficient PSCs and PSMs through incorporating hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). Due to the strong interaction between PbI₂ and HMPA, this solvent engineering delays the perovskite nucleation and growth process, leading to the perovskite film with reduced defect density and lateral heterogeneity. Besides, the stable PbI₂-HMPA combination stabilizes the intermediate solvent phases in the wet film, broadening the prevacuum-quenching interval window from 30 to 60 s. Consequently, the resulting PSCs fabricated in ambient air achieved a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.37%, with enhanced device stability. Furthermore, the PSMs (47.94 cm²) obtained a champion PCE of 20.16% with high reproducibility, demonstrating the feasibility and flexibility of our strategy to large-scale production of perovskite devices.

This study systematically investigates the role of methylammonium (MA⁺) stoichiometry in enhancing the humidity stability of formamidinium lead halide (FAPb(I_0.98Br_0.02)₃) perovskite films and devices. Employing comprehensive characterization techniques—including Xray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), and in situ measurements—as well as theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that a small amount incorporation of MA⁺ ions substantially improves humidity tolerance. Optimal MA⁺ doping effectively mitigates moisture-induced degradation through reduced water absorption, enhanced structural integrity, and suppressed phase transitions. This stabilization is primarily attributed to lowered water–perovskite interaction energies and increased lattice microstrain resistance rather than altered surface hydrophobicity. Additionally, depth dependent GIWAXS analysis confirms that MA⁺ is gradient distributed in the perovskite instead of uniformly dispersed in the film. These findings provide critical insights into compositional engineering strategies, paving the way toward stable, high-performance perovskite solar cells suitable for realistic environmental applications.

Despite the rapid progress of organic solar cells (OSCs) with an efficiency over 20% based on morphology optimization, the efficiency of aqueous/alcohol nanoparticle (np)-based OSCs is still stuck at about 10% without synchronized growth using the same optimization approach. The efficiency gap is mainly due to the fact that conventional morphology optimization strategies for solution-cast devices cannot be directly adopted for nanoparticle-based devices. To illustrate, we first adopt one means of morphology optimizationdifferent molecular weight (Mn) of polymer to investigate mechanism of morphology modulation in nanoparticle films. The organic solution-cast devices show similar performance based on different Mn of polymer, while aqueous np-based devices occur large difference. The interaction of good/non solvent in nanosuspension synthesis process and long crystal growth period during np-film formation process can magnify the aggregation behavior. The magnification behavior is also verified by additive optimization strategy. Strategies used for solution-cast devices that pursue high regularity, tend to easily cause excessive phase separation in np-based devices. Rational phase separation with small-sized domain is more important than high ordering for np-devices. The results help to understand the morphology modulation on np-film and provide a sensible guide for future optimization in np-OSCs.

Until recently, bulky ammonium cations, or 2D cations, one of the most promising avenues for interface passivation, have been applied almost exclusively to the p-type interface of the n-i-p architecture. As the perovskite photovoltaics community gradually moves toward the inverse architecture (p-i-n), the question of whether to integrate 3D/2D interfaces at the interface between perovskite and the N-type contact layer is only natural. By comparing different integration strategies, this work highlights the importance of solvent engineering and additive strategies to integrate quasi-2D perovskite in p-i-n devices. It is demonstrated that these strategies enable almost complete conversion of lead iodide (PbI₂) excess through its conversion to quasi-2D phases, result in a quasi-Fermi level splitting (QFLS) gain of up to 40 meV, and promote the emergence of quasi-2D phases of higher dimensions, which are less detrimental to electron extraction. Increasing device efficiency and stability using 2D cations, however, remains a challenge for the p-i-n architecture due to the quasi-2D phases’ intrinsic properties and interfacial mechanical stress at the nanoscale. It is anticipated that, to take full advantage of quasi-2D perovskites’ superior stability and passivating power, one needs to gain control over the homogeneity, thickness, and phase of the low-dimensionality layer.

The societal acceptance of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is strongly linked to their visual appearance. In this regard, efforts have been devoted to the design of colored photovoltaic modules that can be esthetically blended into the roofs and façades of buildings. Distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), periodically intercalating nonabsorbing dielectric materials with contrasting refractive indices, are one of the most promising technologies currently explored to produce a broad range of vivid structural colors with minimal optical losses. However, DBRs usually exhibit strong color variation with respect to the angles of incident and reflected light, which is undesirable for BIPV applications. To minimize such iridescence, while avoiding the increased design complexity associated with the currently implemented textured substrates, here we developed an alternative approach, relying on an optimization-based inverse design methodology, to identify nontrivial planar nanometer-thin layer configurations capable of reproducing different target colors on demand with low angular color dependence. As we demonstrate, these optimized structures consistently outperform the conventional periodic DBRs, meeting the target colors with minimal angular variations in hue, regardless of the color selected, and with very low effect on the photovoltaic performance. Therefore, the proposed approach constitutes a promising route for the design of next-generation colored BIPV.

Carbon-based materials provide transformative solutions to address the key challenges of cost, stability, and scalability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This review explores the diverse roles of carbon-based materials (including graphite, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene derivatives, fullerene derivatives, and carbon quantum dots) as high-performance alternatives in functional layers. As electrodes, carbon-based materials replace costly noble metals while providing high chemical stability, hydrophobicity, and mechanical flexibility, thereby enhancing device stability under harsh thermal and humid conditions. For charge transport layers, the incorporation of carbon-based materials improves carrier mobility, suppresses trap-assisted recombination, and optimizes Interfacial energy band alignment. Additionally, the carbon-based intermediate layer effectively promotes charge extraction, passivates interface defects, and improves interface contact. The compatibility of carbon-based materials with low-temperature solution-processing techniques highlights their potential for large-scale production. This review assesses the state-of-the-art, material design strategies, and performance of carbon-based PSCs, and outlines future directions toward high-efficiency, stable, and commercially viable devices.

Effective photovoltaic module recycling is essential for improving the sustainability of solar technologies and securing the silver supply chain. One method of recycling silver from end-of-life photovoltaic modules is electrodeposition following nitric acid leaching. This study investigates how nitric acid concentration affects the electrochemistry and recovery of silver in a controlled three-electrode system. Silver recovery and Faradaic efficiency were found to increase with acid concentration from 0.1 м. Maximum values of 97% silver recovery and 96% Faradaic efficiency at 4.0 м nitric acid were observed using a silver working electrode at constant current deposition of −20 mA/cm². Past this point, both recovery and efficiency were observed to decline sharply due to enhanced silver dissolution kinetics. It was also found at low nitric acid concentrations (<2.0 м) silver oxynitrate formed as a solid deposit at the counter electrode, while at higher concentrations (>2.0 м) silver (II) complexes formed but remained dissolved in the electrolyte. Industrially, a nitric acid concentration in the range of 2.0–4.0 м is recommended to optimize silver recovery and efficiency while minimizing anode fouling in a full cell arrangement.

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has reached 27.18%, benefiting from the rapid advance of self-assembled monolayers and fine manipulation of crystallization kinetics of perovskite. However, the further development of PSCs is hindered by the lagging electron transport layers (ETLs) that fullerene ETLs are dominated. To tackle this problem, great efforts have been devoted to improving the properties of fullerene ETLs, such as enhancing defect passivation, tuning energy levels, suppressing self-aggregation, and so on, for elevating the efficiency and stability of PSCs. In this review, the recent advances in fullerene ETLs are summarized. For thermal-evaporation deposited fullerene ETLs, the thickness and thermal annealing are identified as key factors to be optimized, and novel multifunctional fullerene derivatives are developed. For solution-processed fullerene ETLs, new fullerene derivatives and effective methods are developed to address the issues that impede the PCE and stability of PSCs. This review aims to provide an overview and deep understanding of fullerene-based ETLs for PSCs. Finally, the strengths and drawbacks of these two film-deposition methods are discussed from a commercial perspective, and possible strategies for further development of fullerene ETLs are provided.

Self-assembled molecules (SAMs) have emerged as a promising hole transport layer in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), owing to their advantages of low cost, tunable energy level alignment, ultrathin nature, and excellent interface passivation properties. This review systematically examines recent advancements in SAMs for optimizing inverted PSCs. We begin by discussing the typical configuration of SAMs and highlight key optimization strategies: molecular design, co-SAM engineering, and post-treatment techniques. The modulated anchoring behavior along with molecular packing of SAMs is emphasized, as well as corresponding impacts on performance. Additionally, SAM modifications have been shown to significantly enhance buried defect passivation and regulate the crystallization kinetics of perovskite films, leading to substantial improvements in PSC performance. Finally, we provide insights into the future directions for SAM development, aiming to fully realize their potential in perovskite photovoltaics.