scholarly journals Study of a Thin Film Aluminum-Air Battery

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petros Katsoufis ◽  
Maria Katsaiti ◽  
Christos Mourelas ◽  
Tatiana Santos Andrade ◽  
Vassilios Dracopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Carbon Black ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Air Battery ◽  
Battery Discharge

A thin film aluminum-air battery has been constructed using a commercial grade Al-6061 plate as anode electrode, an air-breathing carbon cloth carrying an electrocatalyst as cathode electrode, and a thin porous paper soaked with aqueous KOH as electrolyte. This type of battery demonstrates a promising behavior under ambient conditions of 20 °C temperature and around 40% humidity. It presents good electric characteristics when plain nanoparticulate carbon (carbon black) is used as electrocatalyst but it is highly improved when MnO2 particles are mixed with carbon black. Thus, the open-circuit voltage was 1.35 V, the short-circuit current density 50 mA cm−2, and the maximum power density 20 mW cm−2 in the absence of MnO2 and increased to 1.45 V, 60 mA cm−2, and 28 mW cm−2, respectively, in the presence of MnO2. The corresponding maximum energy yield during battery discharge was 4.9 mWh cm−2 in the absence of MnO2 and increased to 5.5 mWh cm−2 in the presence of MnO2. In the second case, battery discharge lasted longer under the same discharge conditions. The superiority of the MnO2-containing electrocatalyst is justified by electrode electrochemical characterization data demonstrating reduction reactions at higher potential and charge transfer with much smaller resistance.

scholarly journals CdTe-Based Thin Film Solar Cells: Past, Present and Future

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1684
Author(s):  
Alessandro Romeo ◽  
Elisa Artegiani
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency

CdTe is a very robust and chemically stable material and for this reason its related solar cell thin film photovoltaic technology is now the only thin film technology in the first 10 top producers in the world. CdTe has an optimum band gap for the Schockley-Queisser limit and could deliver very high efficiencies as single junction device of more than 32%, with an open circuit voltage of 1 V and a short circuit current density exceeding 30 mA/cm2. CdTe solar cells were introduced at the beginning of the 70s and they have been studied and implemented particularly in the last 30 years. The strong improvement in efficiency in the last 5 years was obtained by a new redesign of the CdTe solar cell device reaching a single solar cell efficiency of 22.1% and a module efficiency of 19%. In this paper we describe the fabrication process following the history of the solar cell as it was developed in the early years up to the latest development and changes. Moreover the paper also presents future possible alternative absorbers and discusses the only apparently controversial environmental impacts of this fantastic technology.

scholarly journals Optimized Thin-Film Organic Solar Cell with Enhanced Efficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13087
Author(s):  
Waqas Farooq ◽  
Muhammad Ali Musarat ◽  
Javed Iqbal ◽  
Syed Asfandyar Ali Kazmi ◽  
Adnan Daud Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Solar Cell ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Bragg Reflector ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Distributed Bragg Reflector

Modification of a cell’s architecture can enhance the performance parameters. This paper reports on the numerical modeling of a thin-film organic solar cell (OSC) featuring distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) pairs. The utilization of DBR pairs via the proposed method was found to be beneficial in terms of increasing the performance parameters. The extracted results showed that using DBR pairs helps capture the reflected light back into the active region by improving the photovoltaic parameters as compared to the structure without DBR pairs. Moreover, implementing three DBR pairs resulted in the best enhancement gain of 1.076% in power conversion efficiency. The measured results under a global AM of 1.5G were as follows: open circuit voltage (Voc) = 0.839 V; short circuit current density (Jsc) = 10.98 mA/cm2; fill factor (FF) = 78.39%; efficiency (η) = 11.02%. In addition, a thermal stability analysis of the proposed design was performed and we observed that high temperature resulted in a decrease in η from 11.02 to 10.70%. Our demonstrated design may provide a pathway for the practical application of OSCs.

scholarly journals Synchronous organics removal and copper reduction in semiconductor wastewater with energy recuperation via photocatalytic fuel cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Sze-Mun Lam ◽  
Man-Kit Choong ◽  
Jin-Chung Sin ◽  
Honghu Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Catalyst Loading ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Optimal Test ◽  
Energy Recuperation

An effective PFC constructed from ZnO/Zn photoanode and carbon cloth cathode has been proposed to oxidatively degrade organics and reductively treat Cu (II) in the semiconductor wastewater accompanied with electricity production. The cell electrical performance with open circuit voltage of 835 V, maximum power density of 0.003623 mW cm-2 and short circuit current density of 0.0506 mA cm-2 can be obtained using optimized catalyst loading of 1.0 g L-1 and semiconductor wastewater concentration of 10 mg L-1. Under the optimal test, more photogenerated electrons will be facilitated for charge carrier separation in the photoanode, accelerating the organics degradation on anode, and subsequently the electron migrating to cathode for Cu (II) reduction. A complete mineralization with 10 mg L-1 COD and more than 70% Cu (II) removal efficiency can be attained within 180 min. A good reproducibility test has been also witnessed because of the stable photoanode and cathode materials. This work may pave an effective and sustainable approach to concurrently eliminate two kinds of contaminants with energy recuperation in a single chamber.

Preparation of the Three Main Layers of CdS/CdTe Thin Film Solar Cells Using a Single Vacuum System

2011 ◽  
Vol 378-379 ◽  
pp. 601-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh N. Alamri ◽  
M. S. Benghanem ◽  
A. A. Joraid
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Fused Silica ◽  
Vacuum System ◽  
Cdte Thin Film

This study investigates the preparation of the three main layers of a CdS/CdTe thin film solar cell using a single vacuum system. A Close Space Sublimation System was constructed to deposit CdS, CdTe and CdCl2 solar cell layers. Two hot plates were used to heat the source and the substrate. Three fused silica melting dishes were used as containers for the sources. The properties of the deposited CdS and CdTe films were determined via Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical transmission spectroscopy. An J-V characterization of the fabricated CdS/CdTe solar cells was performed under solar radiation. The short-circuit current density, Jsc, the open-circuit voltage, Voc, fill factor, FF and conversion efficiency, η, were measured and yielded values of 27 mA/cm2, 0.619 V, 58% and 9.8%, respectively.

RELIABILITY STUDIES OF P3HT: PCBM ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS FABRICATED WITH CALCIUM–ALUMINUM AND LITHIUM FLUORIDE–ALUMINIUM CATHODES

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (04n05) ◽  
pp. 803-807
Author(s):  
T. S. KRISHNAN ◽  
S. SUNDAR KUMAR IYER
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Continuous Illumination ◽  
Stress Tests ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Over Time

This work addresses the shelf life characteristics of P3HT: PCBM blend based organic solar cells (OSC) fabricated with Ca–Al and LiF–Al cathodes. Some of these devices are encapsulated in nitrogen ambient and some in room ambient. Device electrical characteristics are studied under both dark and light. In the analysis under dark ambient conditions, the degradation in peak dark current is monitored over time (in days) and an empirical model is postulated for the degradation based on statistical curve fitting techniques. In the analysis under light, degradation of parameters such as fill factor (FF), open circuit voltage (V oc ) and short circuit current density (J sc ) is monitored over time in these devices (for different cathodes and different ambients) and the results are analyzed and compared. Also, accelerated stress tests are conducted wherein the devices are subjected to continuous illumination for a period of 1.5 h under two different intensities (0.76 sun and 1 sun) and again, the results are analyzed and compared. A model is fitted to the observed degradation in normalized J sc and the degradation constants (k deg ) are obtained. It is seen that the devices fabricated with cathode as LiF–Al and being encapsulated in nitrogen ambient provide the best performance over time.

scholarly journals Device Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Materials (Version 2)    

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osbel Almora ◽  
Derya Baran ◽  
Guillermo C. Bazan ◽  
Christian Berger ◽  
Carlos I. Cabrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Circuit ◽  
Detailed Balance ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Bandgap Energy ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Solar Cell Performance

Following the 1 release of the “Emerging PV reports” , the best achievements in the performance of emerging photovoltaic devices in diverse emerging photovoltaic research subjects are summarized, as reported in peer-reviewed articles in academic journals since August 2020. Updated graphs, tables and analyses are provided with several performance parameters, e.g. power conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, light utilization efficiency, and stability test energy yield. These parameters are presented as a function of the photovoltaic bandgap energy and the average visible transmittance for each technology and application, and are put into perspective using, e.g., the detailed balance efficiency limit. The 2 instalment of the“Emerging PV reports” extends the scope towards tandem solar cells and presents the current state of the art in tandem solar cell performance for various material combinations.

scholarly journals Preparation and Study of CdO-CdO2 Nanoparticles for Solar Cells Applications

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Muneer H. Jadduaa ◽  
Nadir Fadhil Habubi ◽  
Alaa Z. Ckal
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Energy Gap ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Silicon Substrates ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Casting Technique

—In this study, (CdO) thin film, which was prepared by chemical method and deposited by drop casting technique on glass and silicon substrates have been studied . The structural, optical and chemical analysis were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements reveal that the (CdO) thin film was polycrystalline, cubic structure and there is no trace of the other material. UV-Vis measurements assure that the energy gap of (CdO) thin film was found to be 2.5eV. I-V characterization of the solar cell under illumination at 40mW/cm2 fluence was investigated . The open circuit voltage (Voc) was 4.1V and short-circuit current density (Isc) was 1.44 mA. These measurements show that the fill factor (FF) and the conversion efficiency (η) ,were 36.2% and 6.8% respectively.

scholarly journals Features of model thin-film solar cells photoelectric characteristics based on a non-toxic multi-component connection CuZn2AlS4

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250
Author(s):  
D. Sergeyev ◽  
K. Shunkeyev ◽  
B. Kuatov ◽  
N. Zhanturina
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Quantum Efficiency ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Current Voltage

In this paper, the features of the characteristics of model thin-film solar cells based on the non-toxic multicomponent compound CuZn2AlS4 (CZAS) are considered. The main parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill factor, efficiency) and characteristics (quantum efficiency, current-voltage characteristic) of thin-film solar cells based on CZAS have been determined. The minimum optimal thickness of the CZAS absorber is found (1-1.25 microns). Deterioration of the performance of solar cells with an increase in operating temperature (280-400 K) is shown. It is revealed that in the wavelength range of 390-500 nm CZAS has a high external quantum efficiency, which allows its use in designs of multi-junction solar cells designed to absorb solar radiation in the specified range. It is shown that the combination of CZAS films with a buffer layer of non-toxic ZnS increases the performance of solar cells.

In Situ Cadmium Suflide Synthesis in Polymer Thin Film for Solar Cells Application

2015 ◽  
Vol 1107 ◽  
pp. 625-630
Author(s):  
Fatin Hana Naning ◽  
S. Malik ◽  
Zanuldin Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Polymer Thin Film ◽  
Regioregular Poly

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) were synthesised directly in the active layer of solar cell by mixing regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) or P3HT with stearic acid, and exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas. The exposure times to hydrogen sulfide gas were varied and the isotherm of P3HT:Stearic acid obtained show that the presence of cadmium ions in the subphase changes the gas-liquid-solid transformation profile. UV-Vis-NIR results indicated that exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas created CdS particles resulting in wider absorption spectra. The exposed P3HT:SA active layer exhibit high resistance that affects short circuit current density and open circuit voltage of the solar cells device. Keywords: CdS, P3HT, Thin Film, Angle Lifting Deposition, Solar Cells

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document