The fundamental operation mechanisms of nc-SiO_X≥0:H based tunnel recombination junctions revealed

Two terminal multi-junction (MJ) photovoltaic (PV) devices are well established concepts to increase the solar-to-electrical power conversion in reference to single PV junctions. In multi-junction PV devices two consecutive sub-cells are interconnected using a tunnel recombination junction (TRJ) in which the light excited holes of one sub...

Application of metal, metal-oxide, and silicon-oxide based intermediate reflective layers for current matching in autonomous high-voltage multijunction photovoltaic devices

A logical next step for achieving a cost price reduction per Watt peak of photovoltaics (PV) is multijunction PV devices. In two-terminal multijunction PV devices, the photo-current generated in each subcell should be matched. Intermediate reflective layers (IRLs) are widely employed in multijunction devices to increase reflection at the...

Broadening the Thin-Film Horizon: Opto-­electrical modelling of a monolithic Perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cell

The need for more efficient, cheaper, easily producible solar cells is growing as this combination of attributes can decrease the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). A two­terminal (2T) Perovskite and galliuminidium­gallium­selenide (Pvk/CIGS) tandem cell is an excellent candidate, as it can have a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of +30%, can be...

Experimental demonstration of poly-Si/SHJ hybrid tunnel-IBC c-Si cells

Interdigitated back-contacted solar cell (IBC) is a successful high-efficiency solar cell concept. Without a metal grid at the front side, the metal shading loss is eliminated. However, the fabrication process of an IBC cell is much more complicated than that of a FBC cell. Within the PVMD group, two poly-Si carrier-selective passivating...

Opto-electrical simulations of perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cells

Due to the high-efficiency potential over 40%, the two-terminal (2T) perovskite/c-Si tandem solar cell becomes a desirable and promising candidate for solar cells. The photovoltaic materials and devices (PVMD) group in TU Delft has developed the c-Si solar cell using poly-SiOx as carrier-selective passivating contacts. The utilization of poly...

Design of multijunction solar cells based on thin film silicon

Multijunction devices based on thin film silicon are useful for a range of applications due to their low costs, better performance at higher temperatures, potential for flexibility, and light weight. One particularly interesting application of such devices is in solar-to-fuel conversion. In light of this, the goal of this thesis was to suggest...

Development of a c-Si/nc-Si:H/a-Si:H multi-junction device with a smooth c-Si surface texture

For the continued growth of PV capacity, it will be necessary to store vast amounts of energy to overcome seasonal differences in energy generation. To this end, the conversion of electricity to liquid or gas fuels could play an important role in the future energy system. There are numerous ways to create fuels from solar energy, the...

Thin-film silicon triple junction solar cell for solar fuels

The ever increasing installed capacity of renewable, sustainable energy is essential in order to keep the earth<br/>habitable. However, the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy do not strictly follow human energy<br/>demands. Therefore an energy of sufficient magnitude buffer is essential to provide a constant supply of<br/>energy that...