Special Issue "Solar Cells"

Guest Editor
Dr. Andrés G. Muñoz
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Department Solar Energy (SE5), Glienicker Str. 100, D-14109 Berlin, Germany
Website: http://www.hmi.de/pubbin/vkart.pl?v=yduqz
E-mail:

The special issue Solar Cells is dedicated to recent advances made in basic research and technology of solar energy conversion systems. This issue compiles original and review papers covering a broad interdisciplinary spectrum on topics in solid state photodevices, charge carrier dynamics, new photovoltaic materials, quantum-dots based solar cells, nano-dimensioned photo-structures, mimetic systems, hydrogen photogeneration, organic and exiton solar cells and also innovative systems based on silicon technology.

Related Special Issues in other Journals

Solar Cells in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Submission

All papers should be submitted to energies@mdpi.org with copy to the guest editor. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites.

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal published by Molecular Diversity Preservation International.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a paper. Open Access publication fees are 300 CHF per paper. English correction fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (550 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.).

Article Processing Charges (APC)

Article Processing Charges (APC) will be waived for well prepared manuscripts of invited papers. For the first two volumes of this new journal the APC are of 300 CHF (or 550 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections).

• photovoltaic
• charge carrier transport dynamics
• solid-state junctions
• energy conversion
• photovoltaic materials
• silicon technology

Title: Solar Cells: A Basic Review of Technologies and New Emerging Fields
Author: Valerio Dallacasa
Affiliation: Laboratory for Materials Analysis, Scientific and Technological Department, Verona University, Verona 37134, Italy; E-mail: dallacas@sci.univr.it
Abstract: This paper provides a review not only of the hystorical development of solar cell technologies but also a report on more recent processes and mechanisms to solar energy production. The major focus of the paper is to describe organic cells, nanostructured and quantum dot cells among others, but also to analyze new paradigms. Also, the properties of photonic materials exploitable in solar cells will be discussed. Emerging fields of photovoltaics suggested by theoretical models will be analized.

Title: Fabrication of TiO2 Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Author: Seigo Ito
Affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo, 671-2280, Japan
Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) show great promise as an inexpensive alternative to conventional p-n junction solar cells. One of the key points on the investigations into the various factors influencing the photovoltaic efficiency is nanocrystalline-TiO2 porous electrodes. Optimization of the TiO2 layer, acting as the working electrode, affects both the photocurrent and the photovoltage of the devices. In this paper, the development in techniques of TiO2 film fabrication for dye-sensitized solar cells is reviewed. Structure, thickness and particle size of nanocrystalline-TiO2 porous electrodes exert a significant influence on the overall photovoltaic parameters of the devices resulting in improvements in the net energy conversion performance.

Title: Complex Nanostructures: Synthesis and Energetic Applications
Author: Dunwei Wang
Affiliation: Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon St. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
Abstract: Connected through single crystalline junctions, low dimensional materials such as nanowires and nanorods form complex nanostructures. They exhibit mechanical strengths and electrical conductivities superior to the constituents while maintaining comparable surface areas, a virtue ideal for energetic applications. More efficient solar cells, higher capacity batteries, and better performing photoelectrochemical cells have been built on them. The article reviews this exciting new class of materials, covering topics from controlled syntheses to applications in photovoltaics, chemical energy conversions and electrical charge storage. Mechanisms responsible for the improved performance are discussed. And the prospect of extended usages in a broader energy-related field is analyzed.

Title: Amorphous Silicon/Crystalline Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: W. R. Fahrner ¹, T. Müller 1, S. Schwertheim ¹, F. Wünsch 1 and H. C. Neitzert ²
Affiliation: ¹ University of Hagen, Chair of Electronic Devices, po. box 940, Haldener Strasse 182, 58084 Hagen, Germany
² Dipartment Ing. dell’Informazione ed Ing. Elettrica, Università di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo 1, I-84084 Fisciano, Italy
Abstract: The basic structure and the operation of heterojunction solar cells are given. Their economic potential is discussed. The constituting materials and the band diagrams are described. The individual process steps such as polishing, etching, texturing, i-layer, BSF, ARC and metal deposition are explained. Cell concepts are demonstrated. Problems and challenges are choice of the base material, n/p vs. p/n, surface states, optimized passivation, emitter, and BSF layers. As to the measurement techniques, examples are presented such as absorption, reflection, transmission, microwave techniques, photo- and electroluminescence, ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy, dark and light IV, spectral response, REM, and LBIC. The simulation is based on the AFORS code, its results are compared to experiments. Long-term stability and radiation hardness are measured. The efficiency results of various labs are listed.

Title: The Physics and the Technology of the Solar Cells of CdS/CdTe: Perspective of Implementation in Mexico
Author: Osvaldo Vigil Galán
Affiliation: Grupo de Estado Sólido, Escuela Superior de Física y Matemáticas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Avenida Politécnico, Edificio No. 9 U.P.A.L.M., 07738 México D.F., México
Abstract: In the present work the aspects related to the development of the physics and the technology of the polycrystalline CdS/CdTe thin films solar cells are analyzed. The aims of the present work is to present a general panoramic of the physics of the polycrystalline cells solar problematic, suggesting some technological aspects for the improvement of the efficiency of these devices, based on the experience of our group of Solar Cells of the Superior School of Physics and Mathematical of the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico and the development of technologies of different international groups of investigation, that allows an evaluation of the perspective of implementation of the processing and the options for the technological transferences in Mexico, based on the accumulated experience of our set of researchers related with this subject.

Title: A Critical Review for Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures
Author: Katsuaki Tanabe
Affiliation: Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics, University of Tokyo, Ee208, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
Abstract: Solar cells are a promising renewable, carbon-free electric energy resource against the fossil fuel shortage and global warming. Energy conversion efficiencies around 40% have been recently achieved in laboratories using III-V semiconductor compounds as photovoltaic materials. This article reviews the efforts and accomplishments made for higher efficiency III-V semiconductor compound solar cells specifically with multijunction tandem, lower-dimensional, photonic up/down conversion, and plasmonic metallic structures. Technological strategies for further performance improvement from the most efficient InGaP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells including the search for 1.0 eV bandgap semiconductors are discussed. Lower-dimensional systems such as quantum well and dot structures are being intensively studied to realize multiple exciton generation and multiple photon absorption to break the conventional efficiency limit. Implementation of plasmonic metallic nanostructures manipulating photonic energy flow directions to enhance sunlight absorption in thin photovoltaic semiconductor materials is also emerging.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Organic-Semiconductor Hybrid Solar Cells
Authors: Pang-Leen Ong ¹ and Igor A. Levitsky ^1,2,*
Affiliations: ¹ Emitech, Inc. Fall River, MA 02720, USA
² Department of Chemistry of the University of Rhode Island, RI 02881
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ilevitsky@emitechinc.com
Abstract: We present a review of the emerging class of hybrid solar cells based on organic – semiconductor nanocomposites, which states separately from dye synthesized and polymer/composite photovoltaics. The structure of such hybrid cell comprises of an organic active material (p-type) deposited by either printing or spraying technique on the surface of bulk or nanoporous semiconductor (n-type) forming a heterojunction between the two materials. Organic components include various photosensitive monomers (e.g. phtalosyanines or porphyrines), conjugated polymers, and carbon nanotubes. Mechanisms of the charge separation at the interface and their transport are discussed. Also, perspectives on the future development of such hybrid cells and comparative analysis with other classes of photovoltaics of third generation are presented.