Bae, Sumin
(2024)
Design and Processing of Highly Conductive Transparent Electrodes for Semi-transparent Solar Cells.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
This is the latest version of this item.
Abstract
Solar energy, the fastest growing energy source, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and mitigates global warming. A single-junction silicon solar cell is dominant over other types of solar cells, but it has limitations in further increasing theoretical efficiency and diversifying installation locations in residential areas. Multiple semi-transparent thin film solar cells are proposed to address these problems. They can be applied to windows of residential buildings and stacked with the single-junction silicon solar cell to increase the theoretical efficiency above 35%. To advance the development of semi-transparent solar cells, it is necessary to increase both optical transparency and electrical conductivity of transparent electrodes. However, there is an inherent tradeoff between the two properties.
This dissertation aims 1) to explore a property-structure-process relationship in highly conductive transparent electrodes of metal – oxide multilayers using intense pulsed light, and 2) to design unique semi-transparent solar cells with advanced light management and new transparent electrodes.
First, a rational design of a solar cell structure is proposed to overcome the tradeoff between light absorption and optical transparency. Fabry-Perot resonance is incorporated to enhance light absorption in a limited thickness of photo-active layer. By using the wavelength selective property of one-dimensional photonic crystals, device efficiency is increased without sacrificing visible transparency.
Second, metal – oxide multilayer films of high optical transparency and electrical conductivity are studied. Extremely short heat-treatment by intense pulsed light is employed to not only manipulate the dewetting of an ultrathin metal layer but also crystallize both metal and oxide layers. This allows to utilize the high electron concentration of the metal layer and the high carrier mobility of the oxide layer without deteriorating the theoretically predicted optical transparency.
Finally, a near infrared transparent solar cell is designed using the new transparent electrode to build four-terminal tandem solar cells. The tandem device consists of a semi-transparent halide perovskite solar cell and a silicon solar cell. A combination of experimental and theoretical studies clearly exhibits the potential of the new multilayer transparent electrode for the highly efficient tandem solar cells.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
11 January 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
9 November 2023 |
| Approval Date: |
11 January 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
26 October 2023 |
| Access Restriction: |
1 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 1 year. |
| Number of Pages: |
140 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Materials Science and Engineering |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Solar cells, light management, quantum dots, tandem solar cells, transparent electrodes, photonic curing |
| Date Deposited: |
11 Jan 2024 19:44 |
| Last Modified: |
11 Jan 2024 19:44 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/45517 |
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Design and Processing of Highly Conductive Transparent Electrodes for Semi-transparent Solar Cells. (deposited 11 Jan 2024 19:44)
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