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Nanomaterials
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State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells
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State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Solar Energy and Solar Cells".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 7512

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Maykel Courel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro Universitario de Los Valles (CUValles), Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara - Ameca Km. 45.5, Ameca 46600, Jalisco, Mexico
Interests: nanostructured solar cells; solar cell fabrication and modeling; semiconductors; quantum wells; quantum dots; superlattices
Dr. Soumyaranjan Routray

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of ECE, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
Interests: solar cell; nanotechnology; thin film; quantum well

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of nanostructures in solar cells has become an attractive route for achieving efficiencies higher than the experimental values reported for devices without nanostructures. An important advantage of nanomaterials is that their electrical and optical properties can be tailored as a function of nanostructure size, shape, composition, etc., which can result in improved device performance. In this sense, the application of nanostructures into solar cells can result in higher photon absorption and thereby higher efficiencies. However, the introduction of nanostructures often results in the reduction in the open-circuit voltage of the device as a consequence of recombination losses due to carrier confinement, which means it is quite challenging to achieve the goal of solar cell efficiencies higher than 30% for a single junction. To date, new nanomaterials and their properties need to be explored for applications in solar cells. Consequently, experimental and theoretical research regarding the application of nanostructures to solar cells is currently being carried out. In order to provide the scientific community with interesting results related to the application of nanostructures to solar cells, we are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue entitled “State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells”. This Special Issue welcomes manuscripts related to nanomaterials’ synthesis and the optimization of their properties for applications to solar cells, the processing of nanostructured solar cells, as well as the use of theoretical approaches which contribute to a better understanding of routes for nanostructured solar cell optimization and novel solar cell proposals.  

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Manuscripts can address the following topics (but are not limited to them):

  • The application of nanostructures such as quantum wells, quantum wires, and quantum dots to solar cells.
  • The synthesis, characterization, and optimization of nanomaterials for solar cell processing.
  • The fabrication of nanostructured solar cells via chemical and physical routes.
  • Experimental and theoretical proposals of new nanomaterials that allow an intermediate band formation to promote the photon absorption of solar cells.
  • Studies regarding the incorporation of semiconductor nanomaterials such as Perovskite, Kesterite, Chalcogenides, etc., on solar cells.
  • The application of nanostructures to Intermediate-Band Solar Cells (IBSCs).
  • Theoretical approaches for nanostructured solar cell simulation.
  • Organic Solar Cells.
  • Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
  • Flexible and Thin-Film Solar Cells.

Prof. Dr. Maykel Courel
Dr. Soumyaranjan Routray
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanostructured solar cells
  • quantum well solar cells
  • quantum wire solar cells
  • quantum dot solar cells
  • heterostructure solar cells
  • synthesis, characterization, and optimization of nanomaterials for solar cells
  • perovskite, kesterite, chalcogenides
  • nanomaterials for intermediate-band solar cells
  • application of nanostructures to intermediate-band solar cells (IBSCs)
  • simulation of nanostructured solar cells
  • organic solar cells
  • dye-sensitized solar cells

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 10074 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Pre-Structured Substrates and Growth of CIGS Micro-Absorbers
by Marina Alves, Pedro Anacleto, Vasco Teixeira, Joaquim Carneiro and Sascha Sadewasser
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(6), 543; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano14060543 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 789
Abstract
Second-generation thin-film Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells are a well-established photovoltaic technology with a record power conversion efficiency of 23.6%. However, their reliance on critical raw materials, such as In and Ga, requires new approaches to reduce the amount of critical raw [...] Read more.
Second-generation thin-film Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells are a well-established photovoltaic technology with a record power conversion efficiency of 23.6%. However, their reliance on critical raw materials, such as In and Ga, requires new approaches to reduce the amount of critical raw materials employed. The micro-concentrator concept involves the combination of thin-film photovoltaic technology with concentrator photovoltaic technology. This approach reduces the size of the solar cell to the micrometer range and uses optical concentration to collect sunlight from a larger area, focusing it onto micro solar cells. This work is devoted to the development of a process for manufacturing pre-structured substrates with regular arrays of holes with 200 and 250 µm diameters inside a SiOx insulating matrix. Subsequently, a Cu–In–Ga precursor is deposited by sputtering, followed by photoresist lift-off and the application of a Cu–In–Ga thermal annealing at 500 °C to improve precursor quality and assess pre-structured substrate stability under elevated temperatures. Finally, a two-stage selenization process leads to the formation of CIGS absorber micro-dots. This study presents in detail the fabrication process and explores the feasibility of a bottom-up approach using pre-structured substrates, addressing challenges encountered during fabrication and providing insights for future improvements in CIGS absorber materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells)
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18 pages, 4593 KiB  
Article
Analytical Modeling and Optimization of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Solar Cells with the Use of Quantum Wells under the Radiative Limit
by Karina G. Rodriguez-Osorio, Juan P. Morán-Lázaro, Miguel Ojeda-Martínez, Isaac Montoya De Los Santos, Nassima El Ouarie, El Mustapha Feddi, Laura M. Pérez, David Laroze, Soumyaranjan Routray, Fernando J. Sánchez-Rodríguez and Maykel Courel
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2058; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13142058 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1108
Abstract
In this work, we present a theoretical study on the use of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 quantum wells in Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells to enhance device efficiency. The role of different well thickness, number, and S/(S + Se) composition values is [...] Read more.
In this work, we present a theoretical study on the use of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 quantum wells in Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cells to enhance device efficiency. The role of different well thickness, number, and S/(S + Se) composition values is evaluated. The physical mechanisms governing the optoelectronic parameters are analyzed. The behavior of solar cells based on Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 without quantum wells is also considered for comparison. Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 quantum wells with a thickness lower than 50 nm present the formation of discretized eigenstates which play a fundamental role in absorption and recombination processes. Results show that well thickness plays a more important role than well number. We found that the use of wells with thicknesses higher than 20 nm allow for better efficiencies than those obtained for a device without nanostructures. A record efficiency of 37.5% is achieved when 36 wells with a width of 50 nm are used, considering an S/(S + Se) well compositional ratio of 0.25. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells)
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16 pages, 4962 KiB  
Article
Towards a CdTe Solar Cell Efficiency Promotion: The Role of ZnO:Al and CuSCN Nanolayers
by Isaac Montoya De Los Santos, Alan A. Pérez-Orozco, Diego A. Liña-Martínez, Maykel Courel, Carlos A. Meza-Avendaño, Jorge A. Borrego-Pérez, Laura M. Pérez and David Laroze
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1335; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13081335 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1876
Abstract
A numerical simulation is a valuable tool since it allows the optimization of both time and the cost of experimental processes for time optimization and the cost of experimental processes. In addition, it will enable the interpretation of developed measurements in complex structures, [...] Read more.
A numerical simulation is a valuable tool since it allows the optimization of both time and the cost of experimental processes for time optimization and the cost of experimental processes. In addition, it will enable the interpretation of developed measurements in complex structures, the design and optimization of solar cells, and the prediction of the optimal parameters that contribute to manufacturing a device with the best performance. In this sense, a detailed simulation study was carried out in this work by the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). In particular, we evaluate the influence of absorber and buffer thickness, absorber defect density, work function in back contact, Rs, Rsh, and carrier concentration on a CdTe/CdS cell to maximize its performance. Furthermore, the incorporation effect of ZnO:Al (TCO) and CuSCN (HTL) nanolayers was studied for the first time. As a result, the efficiency of the solar cell was maximized from 16.04% to 17.74% by increasing the Jsc and Voc. This work will play an essential role in enhancing the performance of CdTe-based devices with the best performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells)
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14 pages, 4075 KiB  
Article
Diethanolamine Modified Perovskite-Substrate Interface for Realizing Efficient ESL-Free PSCs
by Sajid Sajid, Salem Alzahmi, Dong Wei, Imen Ben Salem, Jongee Park and Ihab M. Obaidat
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13020250 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1440
Abstract
Simplifying device layout, particularly avoiding the complex fabrication steps and multiple high-temperature treatment requirements for electron-selective layers (ESLs) have made ESL-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) attractive. However, the poor perovskite/substrate interface and inadequate quality of solution-processed perovskite thin films induce inefficient interfacial-charge extraction, [...] Read more.
Simplifying device layout, particularly avoiding the complex fabrication steps and multiple high-temperature treatment requirements for electron-selective layers (ESLs) have made ESL-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) attractive. However, the poor perovskite/substrate interface and inadequate quality of solution-processed perovskite thin films induce inefficient interfacial-charge extraction, limiting the power conversion efficiency (PCEs) of ESL-free PSCs. A highly compact and homogenous perovskite thin film with large grains was formed here by inserting an interfacial monolayer of diethanolamine (DEA) molecules between the perovskite and ITO substrate. In addition, the DEA created a favorable dipole layer at the interface of perovskite and ITO substrate by molecular adsorption, which suppressed charge recombination. Comparatively, PSCs based on DEA-treated ITO substrates delivered PCEs of up to 20.77%, one of the highest among ESL-free PSCs. Additionally, this technique successfully elongates the lifespan of ESL-free PSCs as 80% of the initial PCE was maintained after 550 h under AM 1.5 G irradiation at ambient temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells)
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Review

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30 pages, 10223 KiB  
Review
In Situ and Operando Characterization Techniques in Stability Study of Perovskite-Based Devices
by Bingchen He, Chenyue Wang, Jielei Li, Zhenhuang Su, Guichuan Xing, Xingyu Gao and Shi Chen
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1983; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13131983 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
Metal halide perovskite materials have demonstrated significant potential in various optoelectronic applications, such as photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers. However, the stability issues of perovskite materials continue to impede their widespread use. Many studies have attempted to understand the complex degradation [...] Read more.
Metal halide perovskite materials have demonstrated significant potential in various optoelectronic applications, such as photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and lasers. However, the stability issues of perovskite materials continue to impede their widespread use. Many studies have attempted to understand the complex degradation mechanism and dynamics of these materials. Among them, in situ and/or operando approaches have provided remarkable insights into the degradation process by enabling precise control of degradation parameters and real-time monitoring. In this review, we focus on these studies utilizing in situ and operando approaches and demonstrate how these techniques have contributed to reveal degradation details, including structural, compositional, morphological, and other changes. We explore why these two approaches are necessary in the study of perovskite degradation and how they can be achieved by upgrading the corresponding ex situ techniques. With recent stability improvements of halide perovskite using various methods (compositional engineering, surface engineering, and structural engineering), the degradation of halide perovskite materials is greatly retarded. However, these improvements may turn into new challenges during the investigation into the retarded degradation process. Therefore, we also highlight the importance of enhancing the sensitivity and probing range of current in situ and operando approaches to address this issue. Finally, we identify the challenges and future directions of in situ and operando approaches in the stability research of halide perovskites. We believe that the advancement of in situ and operando techniques will be crucial in supporting the journey toward enhanced perovskite stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Nanomaterials for Solar Cells)
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