CdTe-CdS solar cells — Production in a new baseline and investigation of material properties

In this paper, we describe our new baseline for CSS-CdTe-CdS solar cells on 10 × 10 cm² substrates. The deposition of the p-n junction and all the following steps were performed at the Institut für Festkörperphysik (IFK) in Jena. Using the new baseline, we are already able to produce solar cells with similar properties as commercial ones. In the batch type process, all manufacturing steps can be investigated separately. We employ Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements to characterise the structure of the bulk materials and interfaces. It is demonstrated that by RBS the front contact becomes accessible for thinned CdTe films. At the back contact, RBS spectra show a tellurium accumulation which is due to etching. This tellurium rich layer is confirmed by XRD with Rietveld refinement. The intermixing at the CdS-CdTe interface caused by the activation step is quantified by a bandgap determination based on EQE measurements. From the bandgap energy of the CdTe_1 − xS_x compound, we calculated the sulphur fraction x at the interface. XRD measurements imply that the activation step induces a (111) texture in CdTe. With regard to an improved manufacturing process, our cells are compared to industrial cells produced by Antec Solar Energy.     

Space-charge-limited currents for organic solar cells optimisation

Basic suppositions and microphysical origin of the occurrence of the space-charge-limited currents (SCLC) are presented in general and for the temperature-modulated space-charge-limited currents (TM-SCLC) in particular. The criteria are given for the spectroscopical method TM-SCLC to be used for localized electron states elucidation in organic semiconducting materials for organic solar cells optimization and modelling. The “visibility “of the localized states by SCLC method, i.e. the power of the SCLC method to distinguish the localized states, is tested by the modelling, varying the temperature, energy position of localized states and their concentration. Generally, it was determined that the SCLC measurements results are more reliable with the increased energy of the states, with their increased concentration and with decreased temperature. The correlation (or its absence) between the measured current and activation energy on applied voltage, expressed by the dependence of preexponential factor of conductivity on activation energy (Meyer–Neldel rule), gives the possibility to determine the energy range where the reconstruction of density of localized states function is reliable.     

Experimental Investigation of the Recovery of Soaked Paper Using Evaporative Freeze Drying

The aim of this article is to develop an experiment and a procedure to investigate the restoration of water-damaged paper and archival materials using freeze drying in order to allow a reproducible test and comparison of the influence of different operating conditions on drying time and restored paper quality. Firstly, a reproducible method for the preparation of soaked samples simulating water-damaged paper has been developed. Then, the samples have been freeze-dried in a laboratory-scale apparatus that allowed monitoring the temperature as well as the weight of the samples. The technique of evaporative freezing, which reduces the drying time required, has been used in this case. An innovative procedure for the visualization of the progress of the drying process has been validated, thus allowing the validation of a simple phenomenological model of the time evolution of the ice core volume; in addition, data on the residual moisture of the dried paper sheets in different zones have been given. Finally, optimization of this particular drying process by using simple or more sophisticated approaches has been discussed.     

影响拟薄水铝石烘干系统产能的成因分析及其改进措施

本文针对拟薄水铝石生产线中的关键环节—烘干系统的设备产能问题进行了分析和技术改造,收到了较好的效果,并为同类生产企业及今后改、扩建工作提供了有益的借鉴。     

Characterization of microspherical semi-transparent solar cells and modules

Microspherical solar cells and modules have been fabricated. The spherical nature of these semi-transparent devices allows the microspherical cells to harvest both directly incident and diffuse components of sunlight thereby improving the solar energy conversion efficiency. Indoor and outdoor characterizations of these three dimensional semi-transparent cells and modules are carried out using a Lambertian reflector in order to assess the maximum efficiency of the devices. In the absence of the reflector the cell efficiency is 13.5% under standard illumination (100 mW cm⁻², A.M. 1.5, 25 °C). However, this is significantly enhanced in the presence of the reflector. Microspherical modules with the reflector are directly compared to similar semi-transparent modules comprised of traditional planar devices, in outdoor tests at low light intensity (2.5–25 mW cm⁻²) to further demonstrate the benefits of the design particularly at low angle of incident radiation.     

Phase relations in the system ln-CulnS2

By DTA and x-ray diffraction the phase relations in the pseudobinary system In-CuInS₂ have been investigated. CuInS₂ hs a melting point of 1090° C and within this system there is a broad region of liquid immiscibility. A four phase invariant reaction exists at 633° C which is of the form: L₂ = L₁+ CuInS₂ + InS.     

Optimal Control of Solar Sludge Dryers

Optimal control (OC) methodology is used to develop a control policy for a batch-operated solar sludge dryer with ventilation as the dominant control. Batch performance criteria and instantaneous optimization criteria are developed for two economic environments: quota limited and capital limited. The general formulation, as well as simplifications resulting from the multiplicative form of the evaporation (drying) rate model, are presented. The multiplicative form results in a single constant number, called here “control intensity,” which is used to guide the on-line control decisions. These decisions turn out to be independent of the dry solids content (DSC) of the sludge. Further simplification, by assuming a strictly constant weather, is used to demonstrate the general effects of the economic and physical (weather) environment on the solution.

The OC approach is used to address, via simulation under realistic weather conditions, several design, operation, and pricing problems. In particular, the following have been considered: sizing of the ventilation fans, determination of a fair fee for sludge disposal, finding the best final DSC, and evaluating the effect of the price of electricity. Regarding the particular location represented by the data, it has been shown that the installed capacity of the ventilation fans should be increased and that there seems to be sufficient economic incentive for solar drying.     

Experimental Study on Energy Consumption of Combined Conventional and Dehumidification Drying

Conventional drying, dehumidification drying, and combined conventional-dehumidification drying of wood were experimentally studied in this article. The results showed that the energy consumption in the dehumidification drying is the least but its drying time is the longest. The energy consumption in the combined drying is more than that in the dehumidification drying but less than that in the conventional drying, and the drying time is half of that in the dehumidification drying. The advantages of the combined conventional and dehumidification drying are discussed from the experiments results.     

Solar ponds in alkaline lake and oil well regions

Solar ponds are probably the simplest technology available for the useful conversion of solar energy. The basic technology is proven. Solar ponds have been shown to be technically feasible and economically viable for many applications, particularly for thermal use. The electrical conversion and use of solar energy via solar ponds is still questionable, in general, for economic viability. By putting the untapped sources together in the South Plains region, it looks promising economically both for thermal and electrical conversions and applications. There are a number of alkaline lake basins randomly scattered in the South Plains region of the U.S.A. In that area, there are thousands of crude oil producing wells that produce brine in abundance. The selection of suitable alkaline lake basins as a solar pond site and as depository sites of brine from oil wells and the using of this brine and salty water from alkaline lakes makes the solar pond economically viable for both thermal and electrical demands in the area.     

间苯二酚－甲醛有机气凝胶的结构控制研究

以间苯二酚（Ｒｅｓｏｒｃｉｎｏｌ）－甲醛（Ｆｏｒｍａｌｄｅｈｙｄｅ）为原料，用溶胶－凝胶法和超临界干燥工艺制备了纳米多孔ＲＦ有机气凝胶。系统研究了原料配比、催化剂的使用、反应温度及溶剂用量等因素对ＲＦ气凝胶凝结时间和结构的影响，可以实现对该材料的结构进行纳米尺寸上的控制，从而为该材料的应用开发奠定了基础。