Solar photons beyond the band gap wavelengths: their effect on solution-processed solar cells

A deep understanding of how solution-processed solar cells (SSCs) perform under varying temperatures and irradiance is crucial for their optimal design, synthesis, and use. However, current partial spectral characterization, primarily below the band gap wavelengths (<i>λ</i> < <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub>), limits insights into their full operation. In this work, we expand the current knowledge by providing comprehensive full-spectrum experimental optical characterizations (∼300-2500 nm) and theoretical optical-thermal-electrical analysis for the most common high-efficiency single-junction and tandem organic SSCs (OSCs) and perovskite SSCs (PSCs), including p-i-n OSC, n-i-p OSC, p-i-n PSC, n-i-p mesoscopic PSC, OSC/PSC, and PSC/PSC. By incorporating solar photons above <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub> in our investigation, we uncover the effects of parasitic absorption (∼300-2500 nm) and conversion losses (<i>λ</i> < <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub>) on operating temperature and power conversion efficiency (PCE) losses, highlighting the conditions, materials, and optimal architectures for reducing device temperature. These improvements could reduce PCE losses by up to ∼7 times compared to conventional silicon wafer-based solar cells in real-world conditions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Materials Horizons
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/d5mh00186b
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.73

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Solar photons beyond the band gap wavelengths: their effect on solution-processed solar cells

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Solar photons beyond the band gap wavelengths: their effect on solution-processed solar cells

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article en
1 citations

Abstract

A deep understanding of how solution-processed solar cells (SSCs) perform under varying temperatures and irradiance is crucial for their optimal design, synthesis, and use. However, current partial spectral characterization, primarily below the band gap wavelengths (<i>λ</i> < <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub>), limits insights into their full operation. In this work, we expand the current knowledge by providing comprehensive full-spectrum experimental optical characterizations (∼300-2500 nm) and theoretical optical-thermal-electrical analysis for the most common high-efficiency single-junction and tandem organic SSCs (OSCs) and perovskite SSCs (PSCs), including p-i-n OSC, n-i-p OSC, p-i-n PSC, n-i-p mesoscopic PSC, OSC/PSC, and PSC/PSC. By incorporating solar photons above <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub> in our investigation, we uncover the effects of parasitic absorption (∼300-2500 nm) and conversion losses (<i>λ</i> < <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub>) on operating temperature and power conversion efficiency (PCE) losses, highlighting the conditions, materials, and optimal architectures for reducing device temperature. These improvements could reduce PCE losses by up to ∼7 times compared to conventional silicon wafer-based solar cells in real-world conditions.

Materials HorizonsVol. 12(9)
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (SA), University of Crete (GR), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), Mediterranean University (ME), University of Surrey (GB), Hellenic Mediterranean University (GR), Henry Royce Institute (GB), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA), Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (GR)
Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies
0.73
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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