Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114142
Haoyue Liu , Liangchen Suo , Yuanwei Lu , Jingdan Mei , Tong Niu , Zhenze Xu , Han Yang
To address the significant accumulation of industrial waste salt and to promote advancements in energy structure optimization, this study presents a novel composite solid sensible heat storage material composed of NaCl and Na2SO4, enhanced by the incorporation of basalt. The material was prepared using a cold pressing-hot sintering process. The optimal additive amount and granularity of basalt were analyzed through evaluations of mechanical strength and thermal physical properties, supplemented by microstructural and compositional analyses. The results indicate that, under specific conditions, the incorporation of basalt can further improve the thermal properties or mechanical strength of the material; however, this enhancement is not stable. This instability may be attributed to the bonding density between the basalt and the material, as well as the porosity within the material. Weak bonding may also result in reduced thermal conductivity. This research broadens the potential for developing cost-effective heat storage materials and confirms the efficacy of basalt particles in enhancing the mechanical strength and thermophysical properties of salt-based solid heat storage materials.
{"title":"Preparation and performance study of NaCl-Na2SO4-basalt composite solid heat storage material based on industrial waste salt","authors":"Haoyue Liu , Liangchen Suo , Yuanwei Lu , Jingdan Mei , Tong Niu , Zhenze Xu , Han Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the significant accumulation of industrial waste salt and to promote advancements in energy structure optimization, this study presents a novel composite solid sensible heat storage material composed of NaCl and Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, enhanced by the incorporation of basalt. The material was prepared using a cold pressing-hot sintering process. The optimal additive amount and granularity of basalt were analyzed through evaluations of mechanical strength and thermal physical properties, supplemented by microstructural and compositional analyses. The results indicate that, under specific conditions, the incorporation of basalt can further improve the thermal properties or mechanical strength of the material; however, this enhancement is not stable. This instability may be attributed to the bonding density between the basalt and the material, as well as the porosity within the material. Weak bonding may also result in reduced thermal conductivity. This research broadens the potential for developing cost-effective heat storage materials and confirms the efficacy of basalt particles in enhancing the mechanical strength and thermophysical properties of salt-based solid heat storage materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"298 ","pages":"Article 114142"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145847597","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 : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114150
E. Valadez-Renteria , E. Monroy-Sandoval , L.M. Prieto-Zuleta , A.C. Hernandez-Arteaga , V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez , J. Oliva
Solar steam generation (SSG) devices are a promising alternative for producing fresh water from seawater and polluted matrices. This study evaluates graphite recycled from spent lithium (CLB) and alkaline carbon-zinc batteries (CZB) for their application as photothermal materials in evaporation processes. A 3D loofah sponge served as the structural support for the fabricated steam evaporators, which were coated with graphite recycled from alkaline/lithium batteries. The evaporator coated with CZB achieved an evaporation rate of 2.22 kg/m2h, while the evaporator coated CLB reached the higher evaporation rate of 2.4 kg/m2h under natural sunlight exposition. The most efficient solar evaporators were successfully tested for the purification of tap water contaminated with the recalcitrant pollutants (20 ppm) ambroxol (ABX) and glyphosate (GYL). Absorbance analysis of the evaporated water confirmed the complete purification of tap water, that is, the complete elimination of ABX and GYL from the water. The superior performance of solar evaporator made with CLB over that made with CZB is attributed to three main factors: i) enhanced optical absorbance in the visible region, ii) higher hydrophilicity and iii) higher content of defect, which facilitates the heat localization and minimizes the thermal loss. Overall, this study confirms that utilizing recycled graphite from batteries for SSG applications is a feasible strategy for developing high-performance devices capable of water desalination/cleaning.
{"title":"Efficient 3D Solar Evaporator for water-cleaning/seawater-desalination made with Loofah coated with graphite recycled from alkaline/spent batteries","authors":"E. Valadez-Renteria , E. Monroy-Sandoval , L.M. Prieto-Zuleta , A.C. Hernandez-Arteaga , V. Rodriguez-Gonzalez , J. Oliva","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar steam generation (SSG) devices are a promising alternative for producing fresh water from seawater and polluted matrices. This study evaluates graphite recycled from spent lithium (CLB) and alkaline carbon-zinc batteries (CZB) for their application as photothermal materials in evaporation processes. A 3D loofah sponge served as the structural support for the fabricated steam evaporators, which were coated with graphite recycled from alkaline/lithium batteries. The evaporator coated with CZB achieved an evaporation rate of 2.22 kg/m<sup>2</sup>h, while the evaporator coated CLB reached the higher evaporation rate of 2.4 kg/m<sup>2</sup>h under natural sunlight exposition. The most efficient solar evaporators were successfully tested for the purification of tap water contaminated with the recalcitrant pollutants (20 ppm) ambroxol (ABX) and glyphosate (GYL). Absorbance analysis of the evaporated water confirmed the complete purification of tap water, that is, the complete elimination of ABX and GYL from the water. The superior performance of solar evaporator made with CLB over that made with CZB is attributed to three main factors: i) enhanced optical absorbance in the visible region, ii) higher hydrophilicity and iii) higher content of defect, which facilitates the heat localization and minimizes the thermal loss. Overall, this study confirms that utilizing recycled graphite from batteries for SSG applications is a feasible strategy for developing high-performance devices capable of water desalination/cleaning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"298 ","pages":"Article 114150"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882630","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 : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114145
Xiaoyan Zhao , Jialin Guo , Rong Cheng , Junhu Hu , Yahui Wang , Shengjie Wang , Zhiguo Shi , Xiang Yu
To investigate the dust deposition characteristics of the mirror array in the complex linear Fresnel reflector system, a geometric model of a small linear Fresnel reflector array was constructed. The dust deposition characteristics of the reflector array and its influencing factors were studied by numerical simulation. The study shows that when the wind speed is 2–15 m/s, the front row of the mirror array shows a high dust deposition, and the overall mirror field exhibits a double-cycle fluctuation trend, characterized by an initial decrease followed by an increase, then another decline, and a subsequent rise. When the wind direction angle shifts from 0° to 90°, the deposition trajectory changes, and the dust density of each mirror becomes uniform. In the dust particle size range of 17 μm–250 μm, the deposition of dust particle size of 150 μm–250 μm is significantly higher than that of particles with sized 17 μm–50 μm. Furthermore, when the humidity increased from 10 % to 70 %, the deposition rate of 17 μm particles increased by 0.22 %, the deposition rate of mixed particle size increased by 0.11 %, and the deposition rate of 250 μm particles only increased by 0.02 %. Finally, the function model that conforms to the actual particle size distribution is used to characterize the particle size distribution of mirror dust by the Rosin-Rammler method. Meanwhile, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the neural network to predict the dust deposition law of the mirror.
{"title":"Analysis and prediction of dust deposition characteristics of small linear Fresnel reflector mirror field","authors":"Xiaoyan Zhao , Jialin Guo , Rong Cheng , Junhu Hu , Yahui Wang , Shengjie Wang , Zhiguo Shi , Xiang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To investigate the dust deposition characteristics of the mirror array in the complex linear Fresnel reflector system, a geometric model of a small linear Fresnel reflector array was constructed. The dust deposition characteristics of the reflector array and its influencing factors were studied by numerical simulation. The study shows that when the wind speed is 2–15 m/s, the front row of the mirror array shows a high dust deposition, and the overall mirror field exhibits a double-cycle fluctuation trend, characterized by an initial decrease followed by an increase, then another decline, and a subsequent rise. When the wind direction angle shifts from 0° to 90°, the deposition trajectory changes, and the dust density of each mirror becomes uniform. In the dust particle size range of 17 μm–250 μm, the deposition of dust particle size of 150 μm–250 μm is significantly higher than that of particles with sized 17 μm–50 μm. Furthermore, when the humidity increased from 10 % to 70 %, the deposition rate of 17 μm particles increased by 0.22 %, the deposition rate of mixed particle size increased by 0.11 %, and the deposition rate of 250 μm particles only increased by 0.02 %. Finally, the function model that conforms to the actual particle size distribution is used to characterize the particle size distribution of mirror dust by the Rosin-Rammler method. Meanwhile, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the neural network to predict the dust deposition law of the mirror.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114145"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880657","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 : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114114
Mississippi M. Bhunia , Santhra Krishnan , Sreeram K. Kalpathy
Interfacial solar absorbers (ISAs) used for photothermal (PT) desalination typically consist of a PT material and a substrate. Several ISA materials are limited by their optical absorption and thermal losses, as well as substrate pore blockage due to salt accumulation. For example, despite being highly transparent to infrared (IR) radiation, pure Co3O4 has restrictions as a PT material due to its high thermal conductivity and emissivity. In contrast, γ-Fe2O3, despite low thermal conductivity and emissivity, is often underestimated in its potential as a PT material due to not being transparent to IR radiation. This work attempts to synergize the merits of both materials by developing an ISA with wide absorption window and reduced thermal losses. For this purpose, nanoparticle blends of γ-Fe2O3 and Co3O4 were deposited on a cellulose-based sponge substrate, and used as an ISA. At an optimum particle loading ratio of 1:1, and upon using saline water with 3.5 wt% NaCl as the test liquid, a PT conversion efficiency of ∼77 % and evaporation mass flux of 1.2 kg/m2/h was obtained under simulated solar radiation of 1 sun. These values are respectively ∼11 % and 45 % higher compared to when Co3O4 and γ-Fe2O3 are used individually. Furthermore, fluctuations in evaporation rates were found to be considerably lesser during 50 cycles of reuse. The water collected post desalination had significantly lesser Na+, Mg+2, and K+ ions. Besides, the negligible salt accumulation within the pores of the substrate even with saline water containing 10 wt% NaCl signifies excellent anti-fouling property of the ISA.
{"title":"γ-Fe2O3:Co3O4 coated cellulose sponges as interfacial solar absorbers for efficient photothermal evaporation and desalination","authors":"Mississippi M. Bhunia , Santhra Krishnan , Sreeram K. Kalpathy","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interfacial solar absorbers (ISAs) used for photothermal (PT) desalination typically consist of a PT material and a substrate. Several ISA materials are limited by their optical absorption and thermal losses, as well as substrate pore blockage due to salt accumulation. For example, despite being highly transparent to infrared (IR) radiation, pure Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> has restrictions as a PT material due to its high thermal conductivity and emissivity. In contrast, γ-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, despite low thermal conductivity and emissivity, is often underestimated in its potential as a PT material due to not being transparent to IR radiation. This work attempts to synergize the merits of both materials by developing an ISA with wide absorption window and reduced thermal losses. For this purpose, nanoparticle blends of γ-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> were deposited on a cellulose-based sponge substrate, and used as an ISA. At an optimum particle loading ratio of 1:1, and upon using saline water with 3.5 wt% NaCl as the test liquid, a PT conversion efficiency of ∼77 % and evaporation mass flux of <span><math><mrow><mo>∼</mo></mrow></math></span>1.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>/h was obtained under simulated solar radiation of 1 sun. These values are respectively ∼11 % and 45 % higher compared to when Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and γ-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> are used individually. Furthermore, fluctuations in evaporation rates were found to be considerably lesser during 50 cycles of reuse. The water collected post desalination had significantly lesser Na<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>+2</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> ions. Besides, the negligible salt accumulation within the pores of the substrate even with saline water containing <span><math><mrow><mo>∼</mo></mrow></math></span> 10 wt% NaCl signifies excellent anti-fouling property of the ISA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114114"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880693","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 : 2025-12-28DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114144
Zi-Qi Lv , Jia-Qi Lang , Qi Liu, Ming-Guo Ma
Thin films with radiative cooling/heating capabilities offer a green and highly efficient solution for personal thermal comfort across diverse climatic scenarios. Notably, integrating radiative cooling technology with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can further enhance the thermal radiative properties of films. This synergistic innovation not only stabilizes core body temperature, but also provides revolutionary energy solutions for wearable devices and the Internet of Things. In this study, we report a Janus-structured multifunctional cellulose acetate (CA)@SiO2/MXene composite film, comprising a CA@SiO2 synergistic cooling layer (6.0 °C reduction) and an MXene adjustable photo-thermal layer. The composite film functions as an energy-harvesting device, with the CA@SiO2/MXene-based TENG delivering open-circuit voltage of 55 V, short-circuit current of 4.2 μA, and short-circuit transferred charge of 20 nC. By simply flipping the film, energy management and utilization can be achieved across varying temperature environments. When connected to an external power source, the composite film demonstrates Joule heating performance (up to 120 °C). Additionally, it exhibits an average solar reflectance of 90.3 % and an infrared emissivity of 96.8 %. The composite film integrating thermal management, radiative cooling, and TENG, provides promising applications in energy management, wearable electronics, and environmental fields.
{"title":"Janus-architected triboelectric nanogenerators with dual-mode environmental energy adaptation for sustainable power generation","authors":"Zi-Qi Lv , Jia-Qi Lang , Qi Liu, Ming-Guo Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thin films with radiative cooling/heating capabilities offer a green and highly efficient solution for personal thermal comfort across diverse climatic scenarios. Notably, integrating radiative cooling technology with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can further enhance the thermal radiative properties of films. This synergistic innovation not only stabilizes core body temperature, but also provides revolutionary energy solutions for wearable devices and the Internet of Things. In this study, we report a Janus-structured multifunctional cellulose acetate (CA)@SiO<sub>2</sub>/MXene composite film, comprising a CA@SiO<sub>2</sub> synergistic cooling layer (6.0 °C reduction) and an MXene adjustable photo-thermal layer. The composite film functions as an energy-harvesting device, with the CA@SiO<sub>2</sub>/MXene-based TENG delivering open-circuit voltage of 55 V, short-circuit current of 4.2 μA, and short-circuit transferred charge of 20 nC. By simply flipping the film, energy management and utilization can be achieved across varying temperature environments. When connected to an external power source, the composite film demonstrates Joule heating performance (up to 120 °C). Additionally, it exhibits an average solar reflectance of 90.3 % and an infrared emissivity of 96.8 %. The composite film integrating thermal management, radiative cooling, and TENG, provides promising applications in energy management, wearable electronics, and environmental fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114144"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880658","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}
Solar-powered electric vehicle (Solar-EV) applications are very attractive for CO2 emission reduction and creation of new market. The Si tandem solar cells are very promising as VIPV (vehicle integrated photovoltaic) modules because of high-efficiency and low-cost potential. This paper presents our recent results for new world record efficiency (33.7 %) mechanically stacked 4-terminal InGaP/GaAs/Si 3-junction tandem solar cell module with an area of 775 cm2. This paper also presents loss analytical results for losses of various solar cell modules and estimation of solar-EV installed with various solar cell modules such as III-V/Si 3-junction, perovskite/Si 2-junction tandem cell modules, Si, GaAs, CdTe, and perovskite single-junction solar cell modules. Under average solar irradiation with 4 kWh/m2/day, solar-EV installed with our 3-junction Si tandem solar cell modules have longer driving range potential of about 28 km/day compared to 25.4 km/day, 21.6 km/day and 15.9 km/day for solar-EV installed with perovskite/Si 2-junction, Si and perovskite single-junction solar cell modules. Regarding perovskite and perovskite/Si tandem solar cell modules, development of high-efficiency, highly reliable and large-area modules is suggested to be essential for vehicle applications. In this paper, thermal degradation rates for perovskite and perovskite/Si tandem solar cell modules were compared with those of Si, III-V multi-junction and III-V/Si tandem solar cell modules.
{"title":"Our recent approaches for Si tandem solar cell modules for solar-powered vehicles","authors":"Masafumi Yamaguchi , Kyotaro Nakamura , Ryo Ozaki , Nobuaki Kojima , Yoshio Ohshita , Tatsuya Takamoto , Hiroyuki Juso , Yasuyuki Ota , Kenji Araki , Kensuke Nishioka , Shinya Iwasaki , Takashi Nakado , Takashi Mabuchi , Kenichi Okumura","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar-powered electric vehicle (Solar-EV) applications are very attractive for CO<sub>2</sub> emission reduction and creation of new market. The Si tandem solar cells are very promising as VIPV (vehicle integrated photovoltaic) modules because of high-efficiency and low-cost potential. This paper presents our recent results for new world record efficiency (33.7 %) mechanically stacked 4-terminal InGaP/GaAs/Si 3-junction tandem solar cell module with an area of 775 cm<sup>2</sup>. This paper also presents loss analytical results for losses of various solar cell modules and estimation of solar-EV installed with various solar cell modules such as III-V/Si 3-junction, perovskite/Si 2-junction tandem cell modules, Si, GaAs, CdTe, and perovskite single-junction solar cell modules. Under average solar irradiation with 4 kWh/m<sup>2/</sup>day, solar-EV installed with our 3-junction Si tandem solar cell modules have longer driving range potential of about 28 km/day compared to 25.4 km/day, 21.6 km/day and 15.9 km/day for solar-EV installed with perovskite/Si 2-junction, Si and perovskite single-junction solar cell modules. Regarding perovskite and perovskite/Si tandem solar cell modules, development of high-efficiency, highly reliable and large-area modules is suggested to be essential for vehicle applications. In this paper, thermal degradation rates for perovskite and perovskite/Si tandem solar cell modules were compared with those of Si, III-V multi-junction and III-V/Si tandem solar cell modules.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114138"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880647","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 : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114123
X.L. Jiang , X.Y. Chen , J.B. Zhang , Z.N. Zhang , F.L. Liu , L.J. Gou , W.J. Xue , B. Cao , H.P. Yin , J.Y. Jiang , S.L. Yuan , J.N. Ding , Z. Ouyang , M. Green , Q.Q. Wang
Silicon heterojunction (HJT) solar cells are promising for high-efficiency photovoltaics, yet their long-term reliability under ultraviolet (UV) exposure remains a critical challenge. This study reveals the atomic-scale mechanisms behind UV-induced degradation (UVID) in HJT cells, focusing on phosphorus-doped hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide layers. By varying radio-frequency (RF) power density during deposition, we demonstrate that the chemical composition of these layers dictates their UVID behavior. UV irradiation ruptures Si-Hx bonds, which degrades passivation quality but enhances layer conductivity. The competition between these two effects governs cell performance, resulting in an initial rise followed by a subsequent decline in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE). After 60 kWh/m2 of UV exposure, the PCE degradation of HJT cells ranges from 1.2 % to 6 %, depending on the level of carbon and oxygen incorporation controlled by the RF power density. Notably, phosphorus-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxycarbide (n-a-SiCO:H) layer exhibits superior UV stability compared to nanocrystalline counterparts, attributed to reduced outgassing of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. These findings provide key insights into the design of UV-resistant HJT solar cells by linking material properties to degradation mechanisms, thereby facilitating the development of more durable photovoltaic technologies.
{"title":"Atomic-scale insights into UV-induced degradation in silicon heterojunction solar cells: The role of phosphorus-doped hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide layers","authors":"X.L. Jiang , X.Y. Chen , J.B. Zhang , Z.N. Zhang , F.L. Liu , L.J. Gou , W.J. Xue , B. Cao , H.P. Yin , J.Y. Jiang , S.L. Yuan , J.N. Ding , Z. Ouyang , M. Green , Q.Q. Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silicon heterojunction (HJT) solar cells are promising for high-efficiency photovoltaics, yet their long-term reliability under ultraviolet (UV) exposure remains a critical challenge. This study reveals the atomic-scale mechanisms behind UV-induced degradation (UVID) in HJT cells, focusing on phosphorus-doped hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide layers. By varying radio-frequency (RF) power density during deposition, we demonstrate that the chemical composition of these layers dictates their UVID behavior. UV irradiation ruptures Si-H<sub>x</sub> bonds, which degrades passivation quality but enhances layer conductivity. The competition between these two effects governs cell performance, resulting in an initial rise followed by a subsequent decline in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE). After 60 kWh/m<sup>2</sup> of UV exposure, the PCE degradation of HJT cells ranges from 1.2 % to 6 %, depending on the level of carbon and oxygen incorporation controlled by the RF power density. Notably, phosphorus-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxycarbide (<em>n</em>-a-SiCO:H) layer exhibits superior UV stability compared to nanocrystalline counterparts, attributed to reduced outgassing of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. These findings provide key insights into the design of UV-resistant HJT solar cells by linking material properties to degradation mechanisms, thereby facilitating the development of more durable photovoltaic technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114123"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880649","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 : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114141
Heng Ni , Yuling Han , Yijun Zhang , Xiaodong Yang , Yang Shen
Fully inorganic vacancy-ordered perovskites provide a promising platform for stable and efficient optoelectronic materials. In this work, we propose a discovery strategy integrating machine learning (ML) and density functional theory (DFT) with high-throughput screening, which identifies three photovoltaic candidates from 3822 unexplored A2BX6-type perovskites. Using 546 DFT-derived data points, we trained a model to predict the bandgap of A2BX6 perovskites, achieving a maximum R2 score of 0.92. Concurrently, the same dataset was utilized to develop a formation energy prediction model with a R2 of 0.93. By applying both models to 3276 untested compounds alongside high-throughput screening, three perovskites—Cs2PdIBr2.5Cl2.5 (direct bandgap: 1.36 eV), K2PbBrCl5 (direct bandgap: 1.57 eV), and Rb2PdCl6 (direct bandgap: 1.22 eV)—were selected. These materials demonstrate enhanced thermal stability and desirable optical properties. The ML-DFT hybrid method exhibits high precision, significantly accelerating the screening process for photovoltaic materials.
{"title":"Synergistic machine learning and DFT driven high-throughput screening strategy for A2BX6-Type inorganic perovskite photovoltaic materials","authors":"Heng Ni , Yuling Han , Yijun Zhang , Xiaodong Yang , Yang Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fully inorganic vacancy-ordered perovskites provide a promising platform for stable and efficient optoelectronic materials. In this work, we propose a discovery strategy integrating machine learning (ML) and density functional theory (DFT) with high-throughput screening, which identifies three photovoltaic candidates from 3822 unexplored A<sub>2</sub>BX<sub>6</sub>-type perovskites. Using 546 DFT-derived data points, we trained a model to predict the bandgap of A<sub>2</sub>BX<sub>6</sub> perovskites, achieving a maximum R<sup>2</sup> score of 0.92. Concurrently, the same dataset was utilized to develop a formation energy prediction model with a R<sup>2</sup> of 0.93. By applying both models to 3276 untested compounds alongside high-throughput screening, three perovskites—Cs<sub>2</sub>PdIBr<sub>2.5</sub>Cl<sub>2.5</sub> (direct bandgap: 1.36 eV), K<sub>2</sub>PbBrCl<sub>5</sub> (direct bandgap: 1.57 eV), and Rb<sub>2</sub>PdCl<sub>6</sub> (direct bandgap: 1.22 eV)—were selected. These materials demonstrate enhanced thermal stability and desirable optical properties. The ML-DFT hybrid method exhibits high precision, significantly accelerating the screening process for photovoltaic materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114141"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880654","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}
Global freshwater scarcity demands sustainable, low-cost desalination technologies capable of operating with renewable energy. This study investigates a Modified Pyramidal Solar Still (MPSS) employing nanocoated pebbles as a high-capacity sensible heat storage medium to enhance freshwater production. Natural pebbles were coated with copper oxide (CuO) using a dip-coating process and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using spray coating, then placed as a thermal layer in a 1 m2 pyramid solar still. Experiments were performed over five consecutive days (14–18 June 2025) at Parul University, Vadodara, India (22.288 °N, 73.363 °E). Key operating parameters, including basin water temperature, pebble temperature, glass cover temperature, solar irradiance, wind speed, and hourly freshwater yield, were recorded with a PT100 RTD network, EKO MS80S pyranometer, Lutron AM-4201 anemometer, and Agilent DAQ970A data acquisition system. Results demonstrate a clear performance enhancement relative to the Conventional Pyramidal Solar Still (CPSS). Energy efficiency increased from 19.19 % in the CPSS to 29.55 % with CuO-coated pebbles and 30.50 % with CNT-coated pebbles, while exergy efficiency improved from 1.70 % to 3.80 % and 4.10 %, respectively. Daily freshwater yield rose from 2.8 L/m2 for the CPSS to 3.6 L/m2 (CuO) and 4.3 L/m2 (CNT). These findings confirm that integrating nanocoated pebbles with optimized pyramid geometry is an effective and scalable strategy for improving both the quantity and quality of solar desalination.
{"title":"Enhancement of solar desalination efficiency using nanocoated pebble-based heat storage in pyramid solar stills","authors":"Parth Gaud, Nirmal Nayak, Vaidik Patel, Ujjwal Patel, Dhruv Patel","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global freshwater scarcity demands sustainable, low-cost desalination technologies capable of operating with renewable energy. This study investigates a Modified Pyramidal Solar Still (MPSS) employing nanocoated pebbles as a high-capacity sensible heat storage medium to enhance freshwater production. Natural pebbles were coated with copper oxide (CuO) using a dip-coating process and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using spray coating, then placed as a thermal layer in a 1 m<sup>2</sup> pyramid solar still. Experiments were performed over five consecutive days (14–18 June 2025) at Parul University, Vadodara, India (22.288 °N, 73.363 °E). Key operating parameters, including basin water temperature, pebble temperature, glass cover temperature, solar irradiance, wind speed, and hourly freshwater yield, were recorded with a PT100 RTD network, EKO MS80S pyranometer, Lutron AM-4201 anemometer, and Agilent DAQ970A data acquisition system. Results demonstrate a clear performance enhancement relative to the Conventional Pyramidal Solar Still (CPSS). Energy efficiency increased from 19.19 % in the CPSS to 29.55 % with CuO-coated pebbles and 30.50 % with CNT-coated pebbles, while exergy efficiency improved from 1.70 % to 3.80 % and 4.10 %, respectively. Daily freshwater yield rose from 2.8 L/m<sup>2</sup> for the CPSS to 3.6 L/m<sup>2</sup> (CuO) and 4.3 L/m<sup>2</sup> (CNT). These findings confirm that integrating nanocoated pebbles with optimized pyramid geometry is an effective and scalable strategy for improving both the quantity and quality of solar desalination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114128"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880655","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 : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114133
Yeonhwa Kim , Hyun-Beom Shin , Eunkyo Ju , Tsimafei Laryn , Taehee Kim , In-Hwan Lee , Ho Kwan Kang , Won Jun Choi , Daehwan Jung
Epitaxial integration of III−V solar cells on a silicon substrate offers large-scale, relatively low-fabrication cost, and high-efficiency photovoltaics. However, challenges remain in realizing wide bandgap III-V buffers with low threading dislocation density (TDD) and low parasitic absorption. To address the issues, we explore the epitaxial growth of n-AlxGa1-xAs (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10) buffers on Si to enhance short-circuit current (Jsc) of the III-V/Si tandem cells. Photoluminescence measurements confirm an increased bandgap of 1.55 eV for n-Al0.10Ga0.90As buffer. Higher Al composition increases the TDD while the buffer roughness remains almost constant. Notably, the 1.55 eV n-AlGaAs buffer achieves a TDD of 2.5 × 107 cm−2 with two asymmetric step-graded filters. As a proof of concept, GaAs/Si tandem and InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction cells achieve enhanced Jsc of 8.0 and 8.5 mA/cm2, respectively. This study demonstrates the feasibility of high bandgap n-AlxGa1-xAs buffers to enhance the Jsc in Si bottom cells, advancing the development of high-efficiency, low-cost III-V/Si multi-junction solar cells.
{"title":"Enhanced short-circuit current density in epitaxial InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction solar cells enabled by wide bandgap n-AlGaAs buffers","authors":"Yeonhwa Kim , Hyun-Beom Shin , Eunkyo Ju , Tsimafei Laryn , Taehee Kim , In-Hwan Lee , Ho Kwan Kang , Won Jun Choi , Daehwan Jung","doi":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solmat.2025.114133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epitaxial integration of III−V solar cells on a silicon substrate offers large-scale, relatively low-fabrication cost, and high-efficiency photovoltaics. However, challenges remain in realizing wide bandgap III-V buffers with low threading dislocation density (TDD) and low parasitic absorption. To address the issues, we explore the epitaxial growth of n-Al<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10) buffers on Si to enhance short-circuit current (J<sub>sc</sub>) of the III-V/Si tandem cells. Photoluminescence measurements confirm an increased bandgap of 1.55 eV for n-Al<sub>0.10</sub>Ga<sub>0.90</sub>As buffer. Higher Al composition increases the TDD while the buffer roughness remains almost constant. Notably, the 1.55 eV n-AlGaAs buffer achieves a TDD of 2.5 × 10<sup>7</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> with two asymmetric step-graded filters. As a proof of concept, GaAs/Si tandem and InGaP/GaAs/Si triple-junction cells achieve enhanced J<sub>sc</sub> of 8.0 and 8.5 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, respectively. This study demonstrates the feasibility of high bandgap n-Al<sub>x</sub>Ga<sub>1-x</sub>As buffers to enhance the J<sub>sc</sub> in Si bottom cells, advancing the development of high-efficiency, low-cost III-V/Si multi-junction solar cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":429,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells","volume":"297 ","pages":"Article 114133"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880694","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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