Semiconductor Photovoltaic Cells

✍ Scribed by Chunfu Zhang, Jincheng Zhang, Xiaohua Ma, Qian Feng

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 470
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book explores the scientific basis of the photovoltaic effect, solar cell operation, various types of solar cells, and the main process used in their manufacture. It addresses a range of topics, including the production of solar silicon; silicon-based solar cells and modules; the choice of semiconductor materials and their production-relevant costs and performance; device structures, processing, and manufacturing options for the three major thin-film PV technologies; high-performance approaches for multi-junction, concentrator, and space applications; and new types of organic polymer and dye-sensitized solar cells. The book also presents a concept for overcoming the efficiency limit of today’s solar cells.
Accessible for beginners, while also providing detailed information on the physics and technology for experts, the book is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in fields such as physics, materials, energy, electrical and electronic engineering and microelectronics.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
Brief Introduction
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Energy Consumption and Solar Energy
1.2 Photovoltaic Effect and Its Application
1.3 Development of Solar Cells
1.4 Characteristics of Solar Cells
1.4.1 Photocurrent and Quantum Efficiency
1.4.2 Open-Circuit Voltage
1.4.3 Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency
1.4.4 Series Resistance
1.4.5 Non-ideal Factors in Diode
1.5 Application of Solar Cells
References
2 Solar Cell Foundation
2.1 Photon and Solar Spectrum
2.1.1 Blackbody Radiation
2.1.2 Solar Spectrum and Air Mass
2.2 Principles of Solar Cell Devices
2.2.1 Basic Properties of Semiconductor Materials
2.2.2 Carrier Generation, Recombination, and Transport
2.2.3 Semiconductor Junction
2.3 Upper Efficiency Limit of Solar Cells
2.3.1 Detailed Balance Principle
2.3.2 Maximum Efficiency of Solar Cells
References
3 Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.1 Silicon Manufacturing Process
3.1.1 Silicon Materials
3.1.2 Solar Grade Silicon Materials
3.1.3 Manufacture of Single Crystalline Silicon
3.1.4 Manufacture of Polycrystalline Silicon
3.1.5 Present Situation of Solar Grade Silicon in China
3.2 Principle and Basic Structure of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.2.1 Principle of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.2.2 Basic Structure of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell
3.3 Electrical Characteristics and Limiting Factors of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.3.1 Electrical Characteristics of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell
3.3.2 Factors Limiting the Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.4 Structure and Preparation of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells in Industrial Production
3.4.1 Structure of Industrial Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.4.2 Basic Production Process for Industrialization
3.5 Process Details and Improvement
3.5.1 Screen Printing
3.5.2 Thin Wafer Process
3.5.3 Surface Passivation Process
3.5.4 Selective Emitter Technology
3.5.5 Rapid Heating Technology
3.6 Some Special Methods for Manufacturing Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.6.1 Removal of Impurities from Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.6.2 Hydrogen Passivation Process
3.6.3 Light Capture Process
3.7 Technology and Structure of High-Efficiency Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
3.7.1 Strip-Shaped Silicon Technology
3.7.2 High-Efficiency and Low-Resistance Silicon Solar Cell
3.7.3 Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell
3.7.4 Passivated Emitter and Rear Locally Diffused Cell
3.7.5 Notching and Burying Grid Technology
3.7.6 Obliquely Evaporated Contact Solar Cell
3.7.7 Metal Wrap Through
3.7.8 Interdigitated Back-Sided Contact Solar Cell
3.7.9 Hot-Carrier Solar Cell
3.7.10 High-Efficiency Solar Cell with Back-Surface Reflection
3.7.11 Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-Layer Solar Cell
3.8 Outlook of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell
References
4 High-Efficiency III-V Single-Junction and Multi-junction Solar Cells
4.1 III-V Semiconductor Materials
4.1.1 Nomenclature of III-V Semiconductor Materials
4.1.2 Properties of III-V Semiconductor Materials
4.2 Application of III-V Semiconductor Solar Cells
4.2.1 Space Application
4.2.2 Earth Energy Applications
4.3 The Foundation of III-V Single-Junction and Multi-junction Solar Cells
4.3.1 Direct Bandgap and Indirect Bandgap
4.3.2 Principle Limits for Single-Junction and Multi-junction Solar Cell Efficiency
4.3.3 Spectral Separation
4.3.4 Device Structure
4.4 Development and Problems of GaInP/GaAs/Ge Multi-junction Cell
4.4.1 GaInP Solar Cell
4.4.2 GaAs Solar Cells
4.4.3 Ge Solar Cells
4.4.4 Tunnel Junction
4.5 Development of High-Efficiency Multi-junction Solar Cells
4.5.1 Problems in High-Efficiency Multi-junction Solar Cells
4.5.2 Development of High-Efficiency Multi-junction Solar Cells
References
5 Thin-Film Solar Cells Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.1 Introduction of Solar Cells Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.2 Characteristics of Amorphous Silicon Materials
5.2.1 Research and Development Status of Amorphous Silicon Materials
5.2.2 Atomic Structure
5.2.3 Electronic States of Amorphous Silicon Materials
5.2.4 Doping and Electrical Properties of Amorphous Silicon
5.2.5 Bandwidth Adjustment of Amorphous Silicon Alloy
5.2.6 Optical Properties of Thin-Film Materials Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.3 Preparation Technology of Amorphous Silicon Film and Industrialization of the Amorphous Silicon Cell
5.3.1 Common Preparation Techniques of a-Si Film
5.3.2 Reaction Kinetics During the Growth of Amorphous Silicon Thin Films
5.3.3 Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
5.3.4 Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition
5.3.5 Deposition Technology of Microcrystalline Silicon
5.3.6 Optimization of Thin-Film Materials Based on Silicon
5.3.7 Production Process and Industrialization of Solar Cells Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.4 Common Structure and Working Principle of Solar Cells Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.4.1 Structure and Working Principle of Single-Junction Thin-Film Solar Cell Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.4.2 Structure and Working Principle of Multi-junction Thin-Film Solar Cells Based on Amorphous Silicon
5.5 Development History and Future Prospects of Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells
5.5.1 Development Process of Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells
5.5.2 Prospect and Challenges in the Future
References
6 Cu(InGa)Se2 Solar Cell
6.1 Properties of the Cu(InGa)Se2 Material
6.1.1 Structure and Composition
6.1.2 Optical Properties
6.1.3 Electrical Properties
6.1.4 Surface, Grain Boundary, and Substrate
6.2 Device Properties
6.2.1 Photocurrent Generation
6.2.2 Recombination
6.2.3 Interface Characteristics of Cu(InGa)Se2/CdS
6.2.4 Gradient Bandwidth Device
6.3 Manufacturing of Cu(InGa)Se2 Solar Cells
6.3.1 Material Deposition Technology
6.3.2 Junction and Device Formation
6.4 Development of Cu(InGa)Se2 Solar Cells
6.4.1 The Development Process of Cu(InGa)Se2 Solar Cells
6.4.2 Challenges
6.4.3 Prospect Forecast
References
7 CdTe Solar Cells
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Material Properties
7.3 Structure and Process Implementation of CdTe Solar Cells
7.3.1 Substrate
7.3.2 Front Electrode
7.3.3 Window Layer
7.3.4 Absorptive Layer
7.3.5 Back Contact
7.4 Characteristics of CdS/CdTe Junction
7.5 Device Characteristics of CdTe Solar Cells
7.6 Development Prospects of CdTe Solar Cells
References
8 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell
8.1 Introduction
8.2 DSSC Device Structure
8.2.1 Conductive Substrate Material
8.2.2 Nanoporous Semiconductor Film
8.2.3 Dye Photosensitizer
8.2.4 Electrolytes
8.2.5 Counter Electrode
8.3 The Working Principle of DSSC Device
8.4 Device Manufacturing Process
8.4.1 Preparation of Titanium Dioxide Nanocrystalline Film Electrode
8.4.2 Filling of Dyes in TiO2 Nanofilms
8.4.3 Preparation of Electrolyte
8.4.4 Preparation of the Counter Electrode
8.5 Progress of DSSC Devices
8.5.1 Working Electrode
8.5.2 Electrolyte
8.5.3 Dye Sensitizer
8.5.4 Counter Electrode
8.6 Outlook
References
9 Organic Solar Cells
9.1 Features of Organic Semiconductors
9.2 Materials for Organic Semiconductor Photovoltaic Devices
9.2.1 Electron Donor Materials
9.2.2 Electron Acceptor Materials
9.2.3 Interface Materials for Buffer Layers
9.2.4 Some Novel Materials Replacing ITO
9.3 Basic Structure of Organic Solar Cells
9.3.1 Single-Layer Organic Solar Cells
9.3.2 Double-Layer Heterojunction Organic Solar Cell
9.3.3 Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
9.3.4 Conventional and Inverted Structure of Organic Solar Cells
9.4 Working Principle of Organic Solar Cells
9.4.1 Absorption of Photons
9.4.2 Generation of Excitons
9.4.3 Diffusion of Excitons
9.4.4 Separation of Excitons
9.4.5 Transport of Charges
9.4.6 Collection of Electrodes
9.5 Macro-electrical Characteristics of Organic Solar Cells
9.5.1 Open-Circuit Voltage
9.5.2 Short-Circuit Current and Fill Factor
9.6 Tandem Organic Solar Cells
9.6.1 Mechanism of Tandem Organic Solar Cells
9.6.2 Introduction to the Structure of Tandem Organic Solar Cells
9.6.3 Intermediate Connection Layer Engineering in Tandem Structures
9.7 Decay Mechanism of Organic Solar Cells
9.7.1 Chemical Decay of the Device
9.7.2 Physical and Mechanical Decay Mechanisms
9.7.3 Device Packaging
9.8 Manufacturing Process of Organic Solar Cell
9.9 Development of Organic Solar Cells
References
10 High-Efficiency Semiconductor Photovoltaic Devices
10.1 Solar Cells Efficiency
10.2 Limits on Solar Cell Efficiency
10.2.1 Thermodynamic Limits of Solar Cell Efficiency
10.2.2 The Principle of Detailed Balance Limits of Solar Cell Efficiency
10.3 Cell with Multi-Bandgap Light-Absorbing Structure
10.3.1 Tandem Solar Cells
10.4 Solar Cell Containing Light-Absorbing Structure with Multiple Bandgaps
10.4.1 Solar Cells with Intermediate Bandgap and Multiple Bandgaps
10.5 Hot-Carrier Solar Cell
10.6 Collision Ionization Solar Cell
10.7 Summary
References