TCOs for nip thin film silicon solar cells

Substrate configuration allows for the deposition of thin film silicon (Si) solar cells on non‐transparent substrates such as plastic sheets or metallic foils. In this work, we develop processes compatible with low T_g plastics. The amorphous Si (a‐Si:H) and microcrystalline Si (µc‐Si:H) films are deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, at very high excitation frequencies (VHF‐PECVD). We investigate the optical behaviour of single and triple junction devices prepared with different back and front contacts. The back contact consists either of a 2D periodic grid with moderate slope, or of low pressure CVD (LP‐CVD) ZnO with random pyramids of various sizes. The front contacts are either a 70 nm thick, nominally flat ITO or a rough 2 µm thick LP‐CVD ZnO. We observe that, for a‐Si:H, the cell performance depends critically on the combination of thin flat or thick rough front TCOs and the back contact. Indeed, for a‐Si:H, a thick LP‐CVD ZnO front contact provides more light trapping on the 2D periodic substrate. Then, we investigate the influence of the thick and thin TCOs in conjunction with thick absorbers (µc‐Si:H). Because of the different nature of the optical systems (thick against thin absorber layer), the antireflection effect of ITO becomes more effective and the structure with the flat TCO provides as much light trapping as the rough LP‐CVD ZnO. Finally, the conformality of the layers is investigated and guidelines are given to understand the effectiveness of the light trapping in devices deposited on periodic gratings. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution Processable Monosubstituted Hexa‐Peri‐Hexabenzocoronene Self‐Assembling Dyes

Molecular organization behavior and visible light absorption ability are important factors for organic materials to be used in efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells applications. In this context, a series of monosubstituted fluorenyl hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (FHBC) are synthesized with the aim to combine the self‐association property of the FHBC unit with broadened light absorption of a small molecule organic dye, bisthienylbenzothiadiazole (TBT). Optical and electrochemical properties of the FHBC compounds vary according to their structures. Introduction of a TBT unit into the FHBC system broadens the absorption. All of the FHBC compounds show strong π–π intermolecular association in solution. X‐ray scattering measurements on thermally extruded filaments and thin films showed ordered alignment of these compounds in the solid state. In atomic force microscopy experiments, nanoscale phase separation is observed in thin films of FHBC and fullerene derivative blends. Solar cell devices with these compounds as donors are fabricated. FHBC compounds with the TBT unit show higher short circuit current while the high open circuit voltages are maintained. With C₆₀ derivative as acceptor, power conversion efficiency of 1.12% is achieved in the unoptimized solar cell devices under simulated solar irradiation. The efficiency was further improved to 1.64% when C₇₀ derivative was used as the acceptor.     

Layer by layer characterisation of the degradation process in PCDTBT:PC71BM based normal architecture polymer solar cells

This work demonstrates the stability and degradation of OSCs based on poly[N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′ benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT): (6,6)-Phenyl C₇₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) photoactive blend layers as a function of ageing time in air. Analysis of the stability and degradation process for the OSCs was conducted under ambient air by using current-voltage (I-V) measurements and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The interface between photoactive layer and HTL (PEDOT:PSS) was also investigated. Device stability was investigated by calculating decay in power conversion efficiency (PCE) as a function of ageing time in the air. The PCE of devices decrease from 5.17 to 3.61% in one week of fabrication, which is attributed to indium and oxygen migration into the PEDOT:PSS and PCDTBT:PC₇₁BM layer. Further, after aging for 1000 h, XPS spectra confirm the significant diffusion of oxygen into the HTL and photoactive layer which increased from 3.0 and 23.3% to 20.4 and 35.7% in photoactive layer and HTL, respectively. Similarly, the indium content reached to 17.9% on PEDOT:PSS surface and 0.4% on PCDTBT:PC₇₁BM surface in 1000 h. Core-level spectra of active layer indicate the oxidation of carbon atoms in the fullerene cage, oxidation of nitrogen present in the polymer matrix and formation of In₂O₃ due to indium diffusion. We also observed a steady fall in the optical absorption of the active layer during ageing in ambient air and it reduced to 76.5% of initial value in 1000 h. On the basis of these experimental results, we discussed key parameters that account for the degradation process and stability of OSCs in order to improve the device performance.     

光诱导镀改善太阳电池填充因子的研究

本文采用常规的太阳电池工艺制备了一批单晶硅电池片,退火后得到了填充因子迥异的结果。比较了光诱导镀前后电池参数尤其是串联电阻,并分析了光诱导镀提升填充因子的机理。利用扫描电镜（SEM）观察了去除体银后的微观结构,证明了差填充因子太阳电池在光诱导镀后填充因子的提高得益于烧结中形成的银晶粒的充分利用。文中还提出了将光诱导镀应用于接触电阻较大的电池,如纳米柱电池和径向结电池的可能性。     

Nanostructure effect of V2O5 buffer layer on performance of polymer-fullerene devices

Nanostructure of solar cell materials is often essential for the device performance. V₂O₅ nanobelt structure is synthesized with a solution process and further used as an anode buffer layer in polymer solar cells, resulting insignificantly improved power conversion efficiency (PCE of 2.71%) much higher than that of devices without the buffer layer (PCE of 0.14%) or with V₂O₅ powder as the buffer layer (1.08%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that the V₂O₅ nanobelt structure has better phase separation while providing higher surface area for the P3HT:PCBM active layer to enhance photocurrent. The measured impedance spectrums show that the V₂O₅ nanobelt structure has faster charge transport than the powder material. This work clearly demonstrates that V₂O₅ nanobelt has great potential as a substitute of the conventionally used PEDOT-PSS buffer layer for high performance devices.     

一种改进的太阳能电池MPPT技术

为了寻找一种能更好的实现太阳能电池最大功率点跟踪的方法,文中分析了太阳能电池的数学模型和在外部环境(温度、光照强度)变化的情况下太阳能电池的输出特性。介绍了太阳能电池最大功率点跟踪技术的原理,并提出了一种自适应变步长的方法,克服了传统固定步长方法的不足。仿真结果表明,该方法能够较快地跟踪光伏极板的最大功率点,使太阳能电池工作在最大功率点。     

水浴沉积法制备硫化镉薄膜的初步研究

采用化学水浴沉积法制备了半导体薄膜硫化镉（CdS）太阳能电池材料,对影响成膜的因素以及薄膜的结构和光学性能进行了初步测试研究。结果表明,反应溶液的pH值以及薄膜的退火温度是影响成膜的重要因素。实验中pH值范围控制在10．5—10．8之间,最佳退火温度为400℃。另外退火时滴加CdCl2溶液并将其涂抹于薄膜表面,可以使薄膜在可见光范围的透过率得到进一步的提高。     

基于太阳能的ZigBee无线校园网络环境监测系统

本项目结合各高校的特点和供电要求,设计了一种基于太阳能供电的ZigBee无线校园网络环境监测系统,可以实现对多实验楼、多个校区的环境等信息进行实时的管理和监控功能.整个监测系统由太阳能供电系统、ZigBee模块、PM2.5传感器模块、温湿度传感器模块、Labview上位机模块等几个部分组成.经过多次测试后的实验结果表明,此系统运行可靠、稳定,具有广泛的推广价值和一定的实用性.     

基于信道分段平滑的外辐射源雷达非平稳杂波抑制方法

复杂电磁环境下,外辐射源雷达中多径杂波可能具备非平稳的跳变特性。该文针对这种跳变型非平稳杂波,结合辐射源信号的正交频分复用(OFDM)调制特性,提出一种基于信道分段平滑的杂波抑制方法。首先建立了跳变杂波的时域信号模型,然后结合OFDM信号结构将其变换到子载波域,接着在子载波域对各OFDM符号进行信道估计与分段平滑,最后利用该信道平滑值和对应段的参考信号抑制非平稳杂波。仿真和实测数据表明,该文方法能够有效抑制跳变型的非平稳杂波。

     

The Impact of Sequential Fluorination of π‐Conjugated Polymers on Charge Generation in All‐Polymer Solar Cells

The performance of all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) is often limited by the poor exciton dissociation process. Here, the design of a series of polymer donors ( P1 – P3 ) with different numbers of fluorine atoms on their backbone is presented and the influence of fluorination on charge generation in all‐PSCs is investigated. Sequential fluorination of the polymer backbones increases the dipole moment difference between the ground and excited states (Δµ_ge) from P1 (18.40 D) to P2 (25.11 D) and to P3 (28.47 D). The large Δµ_ge of P3 leads to efficient exciton dissociation with greatly suppressed charge recombination in P3 ‐based all‐PSCs. Additionally, the fluorination lowers the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of P3 and P2 , leading to higher open‐circuit voltage (V_OC). The power conversion efficiency of the P3 ‐based all‐PSCs (6.42%) outperforms those of the P2 and P1 (5.00% and 2.65%)‐based devices. The reduced charge recombination and the enhanced polymer exciton lifetime in P3 ‐based all‐PSCs are confirmed by the measurements of light‐intensity dependent short‐circuit current density (J_SC) and V_OC, and time‐resolved photoluminescence. The results provide reciprocal understanding of the charge generation process associated with Δµ_ge in all‐PSCs and suggest an effective strategy for designing π‐conjugated polymers for high performance all‐PSCs.