Progress in development of graded bandgap thin film solar cells with electroplated materials

OJO, A. A. and DHARMADASA, I (2017). Progress in development of graded bandgap thin film solar cells with electroplated materials. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 28 (9), 6359-6365.

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Official URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10854-0...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-6366-z
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Abstract

Photovoltaic devices are developed mainly based on p-n or p-i-n type device structures, and these devices can utilise only a fraction of the solar spectrum. In order to further improve device parameters and move towards low-cost and high-efficiency next generation solar cells, device architectures capable of harvesting all photons available should be designed and developed. One such architecture is the fully graded bandgap device structure as proposed recently based on both n-type and p-type window layers. These designs have been experimentally tested using well researched GaAs/AlGaAs system producing impressive device parameters of open circuit voltage (Voc) ~1175 mV and fill factor (FF) ~0.85. The devices have also been experimentally tested for the evidence of impurity photovoltaic (PV) effect and impact ionisation taking place within the same device. Since these structures have been experimentally proved with a well-established semiconductor, the effort has been focussed on developing these devices using low-cost and scalable electroplated semiconductors, in order to minimise manufacturing cost. This paper reviews and summarises the work carried out during the past decade on this subject. Graded bandgap devices produced using only two or three electroplated semiconductor layers have been explored and their conversion efficiencies have gradually increased from 10.0%, through 12.8% to 15.3% for different structures. While the work is progressing along this line, the paper summarises the achievements to date.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Semiconductors, Graded bandgap, CdS/CdTe, Device configuration, Solar cells.
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Materials and Engineering Research Institute > Advanced Coatings and Composites Research Centre > Electronic Materials and Sensors Research Group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-6366-z
Page Range: 6359-6365
Depositing User: Jill Hazard
Date Deposited: 10 Jan 2017 14:01
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 01:00
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14564

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