Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114178
Dheeraj Sah , Karolis Parfeniukas , Roberto Boccardi , Narendra Bandaru , Agata Lachowicz , Bertrand Paviet- Salomon , Benjamin Borie , Mira Baraket , Maksym Plakhotnyuk , Gisele A. Dos Reis Benatto , Sune Thorsteinsson , Peter B. Poulsen , Rasmus Schmidt Davidsen
The present work explores the application of Direct Atomic Layer Processing (DALP®) using NANOFABRICATOR® tool from ATLANT 3D for local edge passivation of laser-scribed cells. Owing to the defects created at the edges by laser scribing, the carrier lifetime decreases significantly in these regions as defects act as recombination centers. To compensate and minimize these losses, a 50 nm blanket layer of TiO2, using titanium iso-propoxide (TTIP) as precursor and water as co-reactant, was deposited locally using atomic layer deposition (ALD) around the edges, thereby covering the impacted areas. Since the precursor, tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), solar cells used here were without metallization, the cell parameters like lifetime, lifetime at maximum power point (Vmpp), implied open circuit voltage (iVoc) and implied fill factor (iFF) are evaluated in this study. The device is probed using a Sinton WCT120-PL tool and MDP Mapper from Freiberg Instruments for lifetime characterization before and after passivation. Layer deposition followed by annealing lead to a significant improvement of 149 μs in lifetime and a gain of 8.6 mV in implied open circuit voltage (iVoc).
{"title":"Local edge passivation of laser-scribed cells for compensating cut losses","authors":"Dheeraj Sah , Karolis Parfeniukas , Roberto Boccardi , Narendra Bandaru , Agata Lachowicz , Bertrand Paviet- Salomon , Benjamin Borie , Mira Baraket , Maksym Plakhotnyuk , Gisele A. Dos Reis Benatto , Sune Thorsteinsson , Peter B. Poulsen , Rasmus Schmidt Davidsen","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present work explores the application of Direct Atomic Layer Processing (DALP®) using NANOFABRICATOR® tool from ATLANT 3D for local edge passivation of laser-scribed cells. Owing to the defects created at the edges by laser scribing, the carrier lifetime decreases significantly in these regions as defects act as recombination centers. To compensate and minimize these losses, a 50 nm blanket layer of TiO<sub>2</sub>, using titanium iso-propoxide (TTIP) as precursor and water as co-reactant, was deposited locally using atomic layer deposition (ALD) around the edges, thereby covering the impacted areas. Since the precursor, tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), solar cells used here were without metallization, the cell parameters like lifetime, lifetime at maximum power point (V<sub>mpp</sub>), implied open circuit voltage (iV<sub>oc</sub>) and implied fill factor (iFF) are evaluated in this study. The device is probed using a Sinton WCT120-PL tool and MDP Mapper from Freiberg Instruments for lifetime characterization before and after passivation. Layer deposition followed by annealing lead to a significant improvement of 149 μs in lifetime and a gain of 8.6 mV in implied open circuit voltage (iV<sub>oc</sub>).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114178"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114199
Mohamed M. Shehata , Gabriel Bartholazzi , Christian Samundsett , Daniel H. Macdonald , Lachlan E. Black
This study explores the impact of various rear contact configurations on the AC impedance characteristics of p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. We fabricated and examined six otherwise identical cell structures with varying rear contact configurations, including direct Ag/c-Si contacts and configurations with MoOx or AlyTiOx/TiOx/MoOx interlayers, paired with Ag or ITO/Ag electrodes, in p-type c-Si solar cells with front homojunction contacts. The cells exhibited efficiencies ranging from 12.5 % to 22.5 % and were characterized using various electrical techniques, including current-density–voltage (J–V), external quantum efficiency (EQE), capacitance–voltage (C–V), capacitance–frequency (C–f), and impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements, in order to correlate photovoltaic performance with AC electrical features. We find that the influence of the rear contacts is clearly identifiable in the AC characteristics of the devices. In particular, these techniques uncovered variations in carrier lifetimes, junction behavior, the presence of ohmic or Schottky contacts, as well as allowing the identification of traps and revealing the influence of series resistance in fully metalized cells, all linked to the different rear contact configurations. These findings reveal the ability of AC impedance techniques to distinguish contributions from different regions of the device to overall performance, providing complementary information to conventional DC electrical techniques. As such, AC impedance serves as an important tool for contact development in c-Si solar cells, particularly for novel contact structures such as those utilizing transition metal oxides (TMOs).
{"title":"AC impedance spectroscopy of c-Si solar cells with various rear contact configurations","authors":"Mohamed M. Shehata , Gabriel Bartholazzi , Christian Samundsett , Daniel H. Macdonald , Lachlan E. Black","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the impact of various rear contact configurations on the AC impedance characteristics of p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. We fabricated and examined six otherwise identical cell structures with varying rear contact configurations, including direct Ag/c-Si contacts and configurations with MoO<sub>x</sub> or Al<sub>y</sub>TiO<sub>x</sub>/TiO<sub>x</sub>/MoO<sub>x</sub> interlayers, paired with Ag or ITO/Ag electrodes, in p-type c-Si solar cells with front homojunction contacts. The cells exhibited efficiencies ranging from 12.5 % to 22.5 % and were characterized using various electrical techniques, including current-density–voltage (J–V), external quantum efficiency (EQE), capacitance–voltage (C–V), capacitance–frequency (C–f), and impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements, in order to correlate photovoltaic performance with AC electrical features. We find that the influence of the rear contacts is clearly identifiable in the AC characteristics of the devices. In particular, these techniques uncovered variations in carrier lifetimes, junction behavior, the presence of ohmic or Schottky contacts, as well as allowing the identification of traps and revealing the influence of series resistance in fully metalized cells, all linked to the different rear contact configurations. These findings reveal the ability of AC impedance techniques to distinguish contributions from different regions of the device to overall performance, providing complementary information to conventional DC electrical techniques. As such, AC impedance serves as an important tool for contact development in c-Si solar cells, particularly for novel contact structures such as those utilizing transition metal oxides (TMOs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114199"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114191
K.M.D. Nimesha, D.J. Robert, F. Giustozzi, E. Kandare, S. Setunge
The transition away from fossil fuel-based energy sources has necessitated the adoption of renewable energy sources, with the photovoltaic (PV) industry experiencing significant growth in recent years. As a result, the accumulation of end-of-life (EoL) PV modules has been identified as a major waste management issue due to the lack of efficient disposal and PV recycling practices. The first generation of PV modules, predominantly consisting of crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV modules, has reached their EoL phase, contributing to PV waste accumulation. Polymeric layers, particularly ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), are the most widely used encapsulants in the PV industry, with their removal identified as the most critical and challenging step in PV recycling. Mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods are employed for this purpose, with variations in recycling efficiency and potential environmental problems, including toxic emissions and solvent contamination. This study presents a comprehensive review of the properties of EVA, current EVA removal and recycling techniques, and associated challenges, providing valuable insights into sustainable PV waste management. Additionally, a case study evaluates the environmental impacts of key stages in commonly used PV waste management and recycling methods, aiming to identify environmental hotspots associated with encapsulant removal using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Disaggregated assessment enables identification of environmental hotspots across waste handling, delamination, and recovery stages. Findings highlight notable environmental burdens associated with EVA removal, particularly within human health and ecosystem quality impact categories, supporting informed decision-making for sustainable PV waste management pathways.
{"title":"Encapsulant removal and recovery in crystalline silicon solar modules: A critical review and LCA-based case study","authors":"K.M.D. Nimesha, D.J. Robert, F. Giustozzi, E. Kandare, S. Setunge","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition away from fossil fuel-based energy sources has necessitated the adoption of renewable energy sources, with the photovoltaic (PV) industry experiencing significant growth in recent years. As a result, the accumulation of end-of-life (EoL) PV modules has been identified as a major waste management issue due to the lack of efficient disposal and PV recycling practices. The first generation of PV modules, predominantly consisting of crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV modules, has reached their EoL phase, contributing to PV waste accumulation. Polymeric layers, particularly ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), are the most widely used encapsulants in the PV industry, with their removal identified as the most critical and challenging step in PV recycling. Mechanical, chemical, and thermal methods are employed for this purpose, with variations in recycling efficiency and potential environmental problems, including toxic emissions and solvent contamination. This study presents a comprehensive review of the properties of EVA, current EVA removal and recycling techniques, and associated challenges, providing valuable insights into sustainable PV waste management. Additionally, a case study evaluates the environmental impacts of key stages in commonly used PV waste management and recycling methods, aiming to identify environmental hotspots associated with encapsulant removal using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Disaggregated assessment enables identification of environmental hotspots across waste handling, delamination, and recovery stages. Findings highlight notable environmental burdens associated with EVA removal, particularly within human health and ecosystem quality impact categories, supporting informed decision-making for sustainable PV waste management pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114191"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114208
Hongbo Liu , Can Qiu , Liulu Guo , Jijian Lian , Ye Yao
Current static mechanical load (SML) tests for photovoltaic (PV) modules assume uniformly distributed pressure, whereas the actual wind pressure on module surfaces is strongly non-uniform. This study integrates CFD-based flow-field analysis, dual-zone SML tests, EL and I–V measurements, and a validated finite-element/XFEM model to assess wind-induced microcracking under non-uniform loads. Flow-field simulations indicate that the non-uniformity factor between the two regions on the PV module is 1.76, from which the non-uniform equivalent static load levels are obtained. Compared with uniform loading, non-uniform loading significantly redistributes deflection and strain: front-side loading reduces mid-span deflection by 6.5 %, whereas back-side loading increases deflection and amplifies local strains, revealing intrinsic asymmetry between front and back-side loading. EL and I–V results show that non-uniform loading promotes network-like and diagonal cracks concentrated in the high-load region, while short-term power loss remains below 1 %. The FE–XFEM model reproduces these responses and indicates a 16 % reduction in cell crack-initiation load under non-uniform loading. Parametric analysis shows that reducing lower support spacing can decrease peak module deflection and cell stress by up to 17.3 % and 18.7 %, respectively. These findings highlight the need to incorporate wind-load non-uniformity and support conditions into SML testing and PV module design.
{"title":"Static mechanical loading tests on photovoltaic modules accounting for wind-induced non-uniformity: crack evolution and electrical performance degradation","authors":"Hongbo Liu , Can Qiu , Liulu Guo , Jijian Lian , Ye Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current static mechanical load (SML) tests for photovoltaic (PV) modules assume uniformly distributed pressure, whereas the actual wind pressure on module surfaces is strongly non-uniform. This study integrates CFD-based flow-field analysis, dual-zone SML tests, EL and I–V measurements, and a validated finite-element/XFEM model to assess wind-induced microcracking under non-uniform loads. Flow-field simulations indicate that the non-uniformity factor between the two regions on the PV module is 1.76, from which the non-uniform equivalent static load levels are obtained. Compared with uniform loading, non-uniform loading significantly redistributes deflection and strain: front-side loading reduces mid-span deflection by 6.5 %, whereas back-side loading increases deflection and amplifies local strains, revealing intrinsic asymmetry between front and back-side loading. EL and I–V results show that non-uniform loading promotes network-like and diagonal cracks concentrated in the high-load region, while short-term power loss remains below 1 %. The FE–XFEM model reproduces these responses and indicates a 16 % reduction in cell crack-initiation load under non-uniform loading. Parametric analysis shows that reducing lower support spacing can decrease peak module deflection and cell stress by up to 17.3 % and 18.7 %, respectively. These findings highlight the need to incorporate wind-load non-uniformity and support conditions into SML testing and PV module design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114208"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114225
Hongxiang Shu, Xinli Li, Congming Tang, Zhi Chen
The integration of nickel clusters (Ni NCs) with metallic 1T-phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS2) offers a promising approach for the development of efficient solar-driven evaporation systems. This study reveals that the synergistic effects between Ni NCs and 1T-MoS2 arising from enhanced charge transfer and pronounced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) lead to markedly improved broadband light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the fabricated Ni NCs/1T-MoS2-based aerogel evaporator achieves a high water evaporation rate of 2.70 kg m−2 h−1 under one-sun illumination, which is competitive with current state-of-the-art evaporators. Moreover, the evaporator exhibits excellent operational stability in continuous seawater desalination tests and demonstrates strong potential for purifying organic wastewater contaminants such as tetracycline (TC) and methyl orange (MO). When deployed under natural sunlight, the device attains an exceptional evaporation rate of 4.57 kg m−2h−1 for real seawater samples. These results underscore the promise of Ni NCs/1T-MoS2 composites as a highly efficient, durable, and multifunctional photothermal platform suited for sustainable desalination and wastewater treatment applications.
镍簇（Ni NCs）与金属1t相二硫化钼（1T-MoS2）的集成为开发高效的太阳能驱动蒸发系统提供了一种有前途的方法。本研究揭示了Ni纳米碳化物与1T-MoS2之间的协同效应，由于增强的电荷转移和明显的局部表面等离子体共振（LSPR），导致宽带光吸收和光热转换效率显著提高。结果表明，在单太阳光照下，Ni NCs/ 1t - mos2基气凝胶蒸发器的蒸发速率高达2.70 kg m−2 h−1，与目前最先进的蒸发器相比具有竞争力。此外，蒸发器在连续海水淡化试验中表现出良好的运行稳定性，并在净化有机废水污染物（如四环素（TC）和甲基橙（MO））方面显示出强大的潜力。当部署在自然阳光下，该装置达到了一个特殊的蒸发率4.57 kg m - 2h - 1的真实海水样品。这些结果强调了Ni NCs/1T-MoS2复合材料作为一种高效、耐用、多功能的光热平台，适用于可持续的海水淡化和废水处理应用。
{"title":"Nickel clusters synergized with 1T-MoS2 for enhanced photothermal conversion enabling efficient seawater desalination and wastewater purification","authors":"Hongxiang Shu, Xinli Li, Congming Tang, Zhi Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of nickel clusters (Ni NCs) with metallic 1T-phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS<sub>2</sub>) offers a promising approach for the development of efficient solar-driven evaporation systems. This study reveals that the synergistic effects between Ni NCs and 1T-MoS<sub>2</sub> arising from enhanced charge transfer and pronounced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) lead to markedly improved broadband light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency. As a result, the fabricated Ni NCs/1T-MoS<sub>2</sub>-based aerogel evaporator achieves a high water evaporation rate of 2.70 kg m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> under one-sun illumination, which is competitive with current state-of-the-art evaporators. Moreover, the evaporator exhibits excellent operational stability in continuous seawater desalination tests and demonstrates strong potential for purifying organic wastewater contaminants such as tetracycline (TC) and methyl orange (MO). When deployed under natural sunlight, the device attains an exceptional evaporation rate of 4.57 kg m<sup>−2</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for real seawater samples. These results underscore the promise of Ni NCs/1T-MoS<sub>2</sub> composites as a highly efficient, durable, and multifunctional photothermal platform suited for sustainable desalination and wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114225"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114207
Guanwang Chen, Jianxiang Zhang, Peng Su, Nianben Zheng, Zhiqiang Sun
MXene-based nanofluids exhibit outstanding broadband solar absorption capabilities in direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs); however, nanoparticle aggregation at elevated temperatures poses challenges to their practical use. To address this limitation, we develop a dual-stabilization strategy for oil-based MXene nanofluids that combines self-dispersion and steric hindrance mechanisms. This innovative approach employs hydrazine hydrate intercalation (reducing particle size) with freeze-drying-induced surface crumpling to enhance the intrinsic self-dispersion capability of MXene. Concurrently, long-chain oleylamine ligands create spatial barriers that prevent direct contact between nanoparticles. This integrated approach effectively mitigates MXene aggregation driven by van der Waals forces, as evidenced by a mere 0.14 % reduction in absorbance (765 nm) after 120 h of thermal aging at 150 °C, while maintaining the initial particle size distribution. Furthermore, the optimized nanofluid demonstrates exceptional photothermal performance, achieving a solar-weighted absorption fraction exceeding 97 % at a concentration of 60 ppm with a 3 cm path length and an equilibrium temperature of 195.6 °C under 6 sun irradiation, 44 % higher than that of the base fluid. Additionally, the system exhibits consistent photothermal stability during cycling, with relative peak temperature fluctuations remaining below 3.1 % under concentrated irradiation (4 sun and 6 sun). These results highlight the nanofluid's excellent optical absorption and thermal stability within the medium to high-temperature range of 100 °C–200 °C, implying that the proposed stabilization methodology is promising for developing durable MXene nanofluids suitable for this operational window in solar thermal applications.
{"title":"Self-dispersion and steric hindrance co-stabilized oil-based MXene nanofluids for efficient medium to high temperature photothermal conversion","authors":"Guanwang Chen, Jianxiang Zhang, Peng Su, Nianben Zheng, Zhiqiang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>MXene-based nanofluids exhibit outstanding broadband solar absorption capabilities in direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs); however, nanoparticle aggregation at elevated temperatures poses challenges to their practical use. To address this limitation, we develop a dual-stabilization strategy for oil-based MXene nanofluids that combines self-dispersion and steric hindrance mechanisms. This innovative approach employs hydrazine hydrate intercalation (reducing particle size) with freeze-drying-induced surface crumpling to enhance the intrinsic self-dispersion capability of MXene. Concurrently, long-chain oleylamine ligands create spatial barriers that prevent direct contact between nanoparticles. This integrated approach effectively mitigates MXene aggregation driven by van der Waals forces, as evidenced by a mere 0.14 % reduction in absorbance (765 nm) after 120 h of thermal aging at 150 °C, while maintaining the initial particle size distribution. Furthermore, the optimized nanofluid demonstrates exceptional photothermal performance, achieving a solar-weighted absorption fraction exceeding 97 % at a concentration of 60 ppm with a 3 cm path length and an equilibrium temperature of 195.6 °C under 6 sun irradiation, 44 % higher than that of the base fluid. Additionally, the system exhibits consistent photothermal stability during cycling, with relative peak temperature fluctuations remaining below 3.1 % under concentrated irradiation (4 sun and 6 sun). These results highlight the nanofluid's excellent optical absorption and thermal stability within the medium to high-temperature range of 100 °C–200 °C, implying that the proposed stabilization methodology is promising for developing durable MXene nanofluids suitable for this operational window in solar thermal applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114207"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114214
Xiangfei Cheng , Jiaqi Li , Yucheng Li , Pingjuan Niu
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are regarded as the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technology thanks to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), solution processability, and tunable bandgap. Compared to conventional normal (n-i-p) architectures, inverted (p-i-n) devices exhibit better compatibility for tandem integration with silicon, where the selection of hole transport layer (HTL) materials and interfacial engineering critically influence both device performance and stability.
This article systematically traces the evolution of HTLs in p-i-n PSCs: from organic polymers (e.g. poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), poly(triarylamine) (PTAA)) to inorganic materials (e.g. nickel oxide(NiOx), copper thiocyanate (CuSCN), copper(I) iodide (CuI)), and then to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) represented by 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethylphosphonic acid(2PACz), 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethylphosphonic acid with a methoxy substituent (MeO-2PACz), [4-(3,6-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl] phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz), and others. In particular, SAMs—owing to their tunable energetics, interfacial defect passivation, and ultralow parasitic absorption—have accelerated continual record improvements in the efficiencies of p-i-n devices and perovskite-silicon tandems. Meanwhile, composite HTLs such as NiOx/SAM bilayers exhibit synergistic advantages in film coverage and energy-level alignment. Building on this, the article summarizes how representative materials and interfacial optimization strategies impact carrier extraction, crystallization control, and long-term stability, and it highlights future research priorities in molecular design, scalable green processing, coordinated tuning of energy levels and wettability, and large-area uniformity. These directions aim to inform the development of high-efficiency, long-lifetime, and manufacturable PSCs and Si-based tandem cells.
{"title":"Development of hole-transport layers in inverted perovskite solar cells","authors":"Xiangfei Cheng , Jiaqi Li , Yucheng Li , Pingjuan Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are regarded as the most promising next-generation photovoltaic technology thanks to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), solution processability, and tunable bandgap. Compared to conventional normal (n-i-p) architectures, inverted (p-i-n) devices exhibit better compatibility for tandem integration with silicon, where the selection of hole transport layer (HTL) materials and interfacial engineering critically influence both device performance and stability.</div><div>This article systematically traces the evolution of HTLs in p-i-n PSCs: from organic polymers (e.g. poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), poly(triarylamine) (PTAA)) to inorganic materials (e.g. nickel oxide(NiO<sub>x</sub>), copper thiocyanate (CuSCN), copper(I) iodide (CuI)), and then to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) represented by 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethylphosphonic acid(2PACz), 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethylphosphonic acid with a methoxy substituent (MeO-2PACz), [4-(3,6-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl] phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz), and others. In particular, SAMs—owing to their tunable energetics, interfacial defect passivation, and ultralow parasitic absorption—have accelerated continual record improvements in the efficiencies of p-i-n devices and perovskite-silicon tandems. Meanwhile, composite HTLs such as NiO<sub>x</sub>/SAM bilayers exhibit synergistic advantages in film coverage and energy-level alignment. Building on this, the article summarizes how representative materials and interfacial optimization strategies impact carrier extraction, crystallization control, and long-term stability, and it highlights future research priorities in molecular design, scalable green processing, coordinated tuning of energy levels and wettability, and large-area uniformity. These directions aim to inform the development of high-efficiency, long-lifetime, and manufacturable PSCs and Si-based tandem cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114214"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114219
Xiaopeng Jiang , Ruiqi Xu , Na Wei , Zeyu Yang , Panpan Cui , Xiaojie Song , Hongzhi Cui
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a promising technology for sustainable freshwater production. However, designing multifunctional evaporators with both structural durability and high evaporation efficiency remains challenging. Here, a surface termination engineering strategy through fluoride-free Lewis molten salt etching is proposed to synthesize MXene with tunable halogen functionalities (Cl/Br). To overcome the limitations of conventional 3D porous networks in solar desalination, a directional freeze-drying technique is employed to construct vertically aligned MXene chitosan aerogels with hierarchical microchannels. Compared to Cl-terminated composite aerogel, the aerogel of Br-terminated MXene exhibits enhanced broadband sunlight harvesting (96.17 %). The synergistic interplay between vertical channels and hydrophilic pores enables rapid water/vapor transport, achieving an exceptional evaporation rate of 2.18 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun irradiation with ultralow evaporation enthalpy (1.67 MJ kg−1). Furthermore, the aerogel demonstrates remarkable durability, underwater oleophobicity, and mechanical resilience. This study demonstrates an environmentally friendly fabrication strategy for durable solar evaporators with industrial potential.
太阳能驱动的界面蒸发是一种很有前途的可持续淡水生产技术。然而，设计出既具有结构耐久性又具有高蒸发效率的多功能蒸发器仍然是一个挑战。本文提出了一种通过无氟刘易斯熔盐蚀刻的表面终止工程策略来合成具有可调卤素官能团（Cl/Br）的MXene。为了克服传统3D多孔网络在太阳能海水淡化中的局限性，采用定向冷冻干燥技术构建了具有分层微通道的垂直排列MXene壳聚糖气凝胶。与端cl的复合气凝胶相比，端br的MXene气凝胶的宽带太阳光捕获率提高了96.17%。垂直通道和亲水孔隙之间的协同作用实现了快速的水汽输送，在一次太阳照射下实现了2.18 kg m−2 h−1的特殊蒸发速率，蒸发焓极低（1.67 MJ kg−1）。此外，气凝胶表现出卓越的耐久性、水下疏油性和机械弹性。本研究展示了具有工业潜力的耐用太阳能蒸发器的环保制造策略。
{"title":"Synergistic engineering of MXene surface terminations and vertically aligned aerogel architectures for highly efficient solar steam generation","authors":"Xiaopeng Jiang , Ruiqi Xu , Na Wei , Zeyu Yang , Panpan Cui , Xiaojie Song , Hongzhi Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a promising technology for sustainable freshwater production. However, designing multifunctional evaporators with both structural durability and high evaporation efficiency remains challenging. Here, a surface termination engineering strategy through fluoride-free Lewis molten salt etching is proposed to synthesize MXene with tunable halogen functionalities (Cl/Br). To overcome the limitations of conventional 3D porous networks in solar desalination, a directional freeze-drying technique is employed to construct vertically aligned MXene chitosan aerogels with hierarchical microchannels. Compared to Cl-terminated composite aerogel, the aerogel of Br-terminated MXene exhibits enhanced broadband sunlight harvesting (96.17 %). The synergistic interplay between vertical channels and hydrophilic pores enables rapid water/vapor transport, achieving an exceptional evaporation rate of 2.18 kg m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> under one sun irradiation with ultralow evaporation enthalpy (1.67 MJ kg<sup>−1</sup>). Furthermore, the aerogel demonstrates remarkable durability, underwater oleophobicity, and mechanical resilience. This study demonstrates an environmentally friendly fabrication strategy for durable solar evaporators with industrial potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114219"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The increasing deployment of glass–glass photovoltaic (PV) modules with polyolefin elastomer (POE) encapsulation creates a need for recycling approaches tailored to these modules. The study aims to develop and evaluate a hybrid recycling process combining mechanical, thermal, and chemical treatments that provides separation and recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life PV modules, supporting more sustainable waste management. High-intensity impact milling fragmented the module into particles, with the coarse fraction (>2.8 mm) retaining 22% of the total mass mainly as bonded multi-layered pieces. Thermal delamination at 500 °C decomposed POE and detached glass, solar cells, and metal ribbons, with mass loss analysis confirming that this single fraction contained over 94% of POE. Subsequent hydrometallurgical acid leaching enabled extraction of metals. Its analysis showed that 94% of aluminium and 93% of silver — originating from solar cell metallization — were observed in the coarse fraction. These results proved that strong POE elasticity preserved large, bonded components after mechanical treatment, concentrating most encapsulant and solar cells in the coarse fraction. Additional sieving of the delaminated >2.8 mm material demonstrated that fine sub-fractions (<1 mm), although representing only one-third of the mass, contained more than 98% of the metals within the fraction. The results demonstrated, for the first time, how the mechanical treatment of POE encapsulated glass–glass PV module leads the material separation and distribution. The developed approach enables targeted processing of selected fractions — reducing energy demand and chemical use — and therefore offering an environmentally beneficial and more cost-efficient recycling pathway.
{"title":"Mechanically driven hybrid recycling of polyolefin elastomer glass–glass photovoltaic module for targeted material recovery","authors":"Aistis Rapolas Zubas , Dmitri Goljandin , Remigijus Ivanauskas , Egidijus Griškonis , Alessandra Bonoli , Jolita Kruopienė , Gintaras Denafas","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing deployment of glass–glass photovoltaic (PV) modules with polyolefin elastomer (POE) encapsulation creates a need for recycling approaches tailored to these modules. The study aims to develop and evaluate a hybrid recycling process combining mechanical, thermal, and chemical treatments that provides separation and recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life PV modules, supporting more sustainable waste management. High-intensity impact milling fragmented the module into particles, with the coarse fraction (>2.8 mm) retaining 22% of the total mass mainly as bonded multi-layered pieces. Thermal delamination at 500 °C decomposed POE and detached glass, solar cells, and metal ribbons, with mass loss analysis confirming that this single fraction contained over 94% of POE. Subsequent hydrometallurgical acid leaching enabled extraction of metals. Its analysis showed that 94% of aluminium and 93% of silver — originating from solar cell metallization — were observed in the coarse fraction. These results proved that strong POE elasticity preserved large, bonded components after mechanical treatment, concentrating most encapsulant and solar cells in the coarse fraction. Additional sieving of the delaminated >2.8 mm material demonstrated that fine sub-fractions (<1 mm), although representing only one-third of the mass, contained more than 98% of the metals within the fraction. The results demonstrated, for the first time, how the mechanical treatment of POE encapsulated glass–glass PV module leads the material separation and distribution. The developed approach enables targeted processing of selected fractions — reducing energy demand and chemical use — and therefore offering an environmentally beneficial and more cost-efficient recycling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114221"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114195
Haoran Wang , Chandany Sen , Muhammad Umair Khan , Ting Huang , Hao Song , Munan Gao , Ruirui Lv , Yuanjie Yu , Bram Hoex
Silicon solar technology continues to dominate the market, with Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) technology leading in efficiency. However, as devices approach fundamental performance limits, new failure modes may emerge or existing ones may become more critical, and their long-term reliability remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the effect of damp heat (DH) exposure on bifacial n-type TOPCon modules with laser-assisted fired contacts, utilising different encapsulants: EVA, POE, and EVA-POE-EVA (EPE). After 2000 h of DH testing, modules showed Pmax losses ranging from ∼6%rel to ∼16%rel, primarily due to reduced Voc caused by increased rear-side recombination. Modules encapsulated with POE on both sides degraded least (∼8%rel), while those using white EVA on the rear side suffered higher losses, especially when combined with EPE on the front (∼16%rel). Material analyses revealed a degradation pathway driven by magnesium (Mg) additives in the white EVA. Under DH exposure, Mg hydrates and generates an alkaline micro-environment that corrodes the SiNx:H layer, facilitating moisture ingress in the poly-Si and SiOx layers. This enhances interfacial hydrogen concentration, leading to depassivation and Mg-rich shunting defects, thereby increasing J0, rear and reducing Voc. These findings underscore the need to control encapsulant composition by limiting Mg in white EVA and improving cell passivation. The minimodules studied here were specifically fabricated R&D purposes to probe humidity-induced degradation pathways. Through an in-depth understanding of this mechanism and thorough optimisation of cell and encapsulant design, effective mitigation strategies have been integrated upstream of module production, substantially eliminating the risk in commercial modules.
{"title":"A novel damp heat-induced failure mechanism in PV modules (with case study in TOPCon)","authors":"Haoran Wang , Chandany Sen , Muhammad Umair Khan , Ting Huang , Hao Song , Munan Gao , Ruirui Lv , Yuanjie Yu , Bram Hoex","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2026.114195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silicon solar technology continues to dominate the market, with Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) technology leading in efficiency. However, as devices approach fundamental performance limits, new failure modes may emerge or existing ones may become more critical, and their long-term reliability remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the effect of damp heat (DH) exposure on bifacial n-type TOPCon modules with laser-assisted fired contacts, utilising different encapsulants: EVA, POE, and EVA-POE-EVA (EPE). After 2000 h of DH testing, modules showed P<sub>max</sub> losses ranging from ∼6%<sub>rel</sub> to ∼16%<sub>rel</sub>, primarily due to reduced V<sub>oc</sub> caused by increased rear-side recombination. Modules encapsulated with POE on both sides degraded least (∼8%<sub>rel</sub>), while those using white EVA on the rear side suffered higher losses, especially when combined with EPE on the front (∼16%<sub>rel</sub>). Material analyses revealed a degradation pathway driven by magnesium (Mg) additives in the white EVA. Under DH exposure, Mg hydrates and generates an alkaline micro-environment that corrodes the SiN<sub>x</sub>:H layer, facilitating moisture ingress in the poly-Si and SiO<sub>x</sub> layers. This enhances interfacial hydrogen concentration, leading to depassivation and Mg-rich shunting defects, thereby increasing J<sub>0, rear</sub> and reducing V<sub>oc</sub>. These findings underscore the need to control encapsulant composition by limiting Mg in white EVA and improving cell passivation. The minimodules studied here were specifically fabricated R&D purposes to probe humidity-induced degradation pathways. Through an in-depth understanding of this mechanism and thorough optimisation of cell and encapsulant design, effective mitigation strategies have been integrated upstream of module production, substantially eliminating the risk in commercial modules.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 114195"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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