• 한국재료학회지
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.748-757
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• 2018

Inorganic semiconductor compounds, e.g., CIGS and CZTS, are promising materials for thin film solar cells because of their high light absorption coefficient and stability. Research on thin film solar cells using this compound has made remarkable progress in the last two decades. Vacuum-based processes, e.g., co-evaporation and sputtering, are well established to obtain high-efficiency CIGS and/or CZTS thin film solar cells with over 20 % of power conversion. However, because the vacuum-based processes need high cost equipment, they pose technological barriers to producing low-cost and large area photovoltaic cells. Recently, non-vacuum based processes, for example the solution/nanoparticle precursor process, the electrodeposition method, or the polymer-capped precursors process, have been intensively studied to reduce capital expenditure. Lately, over 17 % of energy conversion efficiency has been reported by solution precursors methods in CIGS solar cells. This article reviews the status of non-vacuum techniques that are used to fabricate CIGS and CZTS thin films solar cells.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2014년도 제46회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.190.2-190.2
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• 2014

We report the origin of the improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of hybrid thin-film solar cells when a soluble C60 derivative, [6,6]-phenyl-$C_{61}$-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), is introduced as a hole-blocking layer. The PCBM layer could establish better interfacial contact by decreasing the reverse ark-saturation current density, resulting in a decrease in the probability of carrier recombination. The power conversion efficiency of this optimized device reached a maximum value of 8.34% and is the highest yet reported for hybrid thin-film solar cells.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.93-96
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• 2017

The structural, electrical and optical properties of Ti thin films fabricated by dual magnetron sputtering were investigated under various film thicknesses. The fabricated Ti thin films exhibited uniform surfaces, crystallinity, various grain sizes, and with various film thicknesses. Also, the crystallinity and grain size of the Ti thin films increased with the increase of film thickness. The electrical properties of Ti thin films improved with the increase of film thickness. The results showed that the performance of TCO-less DSSC critically depended on the film thickness of the Ti working electrodes, due to the conductivity of Ti thin film. However, the maximum conversion efficiency of TCO-less DSSC was exhibited at the condition of 100 nm thickness due to the surface scattering of photons caused by the variation of grain size.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.417-421
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• 2016

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the $TiO_2$ layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.505-509
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• 2016

We have investigated the characteristics of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell by inserting barrier layer. The conversion efficiency of a-Si thin-film solar cells on graphite substrate shows nearly zero because of the surface roughness of the graphite substrate. To enhance the performance of solar cells, the surface morphology of the back side were modified by changing the barrier layer on graphite. The surface roughness of graphite substrate with the barrier layer grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reduced from ~2 um to ~75 nm. In this study, the combination of the barrier layer on graphite substrate is important to increase solar cell efficiency. We achieved ~ 7.8% cell efficiency for an a-Si thin-film solar cell on graphite substrate with SiNx/SiOx stack barrier layer.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국신재생에너지학회 2011년도 추계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.55.2-55.2
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• 2011

This research aims to study the effects of the incidence angle and surface temperature on the power generation performance of a thin-film CIGS solar cell for solar powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The test rig consists of a unit CIGS solar cell is installed on a table whose angle is controlled manually. A K-type thermocouple is attached to the solar cell surface for temperature measurements. A solar module analyzer measures the voltage and current generated from the test solar cell. The solar module analyzer also calculates the maximum solar power and efficiency of the solar cell. All test data are acquired in a PC. Test results show that the solar cell efficiency decreases significantly with increasing incidence angle and increasing surface temperature in general. As the incidence angle increases from 0 degree to 90 degree, the solar cell efficiency decreases by 60%. The solar cell efficiency decreases by 10% with increasing solar cell surface temperature from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, for exmaple. The direct cooling method of the solar cell using dry ice decreases dramatically the solar cell surface temperature, thus increasing the solar cell efficiency by 15%.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.259-273
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• 2012

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors, such as $CuInSe_2$, $CuGaSe_2$, Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS), and CdTe have attracted considerable interest as efficient materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). Currently, CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 11% in module production. However, commercialized CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have some limitations due to the scarcity of In, Ga, and Te and the environmental issues associated with Cd and Se. Recently, kesterite CZTS, which is one of the In- and Ga- free absorber materials, has been attracted considerable attention as a new candidate for use as an absorber material in thin film solar cells. The CZTS-based absorber material has outstanding characteristics such as band gap energy of 1.0 eV to 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient on the order of $10^4cm^{-1}$, and high theoretical conversion efficiency of 32.2% in thin film solar cells. Despite these promising characteristics, research into CZTS-based thin film solar cells is still incomprehensive and related reports are quite few compared to those for CIGS thin film solar cells, which show high efficiency of over 20%. The recent development of kesterite-based CZTS thin film solar cells is summarized in this work. The new challenges for enhanced performance in CZTS thin films are examined and prospective issues are addressed as well.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

본 연구는 최근 급속도로 성장하고 있는 태양전지를 활용한 국내외 도시 디자인의 현황과 동향을 파악하고, 사례 분석을 토대로 향후 진행할 연구과제인 CIGS 박막 태양전지를 활용한 도시 디자인 제안의 긍정적인 측면과 시사점을 파악하고자 하였다. 연구 방법은 문헌연구를 통하여 이론적 고찰을 진행하였고, 이후에 국내외 태양전지를 활용한 도시 디자인의 현황과 동향을 파악하여 사례를 조사·분석하였다. 그 결과 태양전지를 활용한 도시 디자인은 꾸준히 증가하고 있음을 확인하였으며, 주변 환경과의 조화, 실내외 동반 미관창출, 색상의 활용 등의 시각적인 변화를 통하여 심미적 도시 미관창출의 긍정적 효과가 있는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 시사점을 바탕으로 CIGS 박막 태양전지를 도시 디자인에 활용하였을 때 올 수 있는 기대효과를 제시하고, 향후 진행할 CIGS 박막 태양전지를 활용한 도시 디자인 제안에 대한 방향성과 의의를 확인하고자 한다.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.69-75
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 티타늄(Ti) 금속 박막을 사용해서 값비싼 산화주석(FTO) 전극을 대체된 염료감응형 태양전지(DSSC)의 제작 방법과 전기적 특성에 대해서 고찰하였다. Ti 박막의 증착 시간을 조절하여 박막의 두께를 변화시켰으며, Ti 박막의 두께가 두꺼워지면서 표면저항은 감소하였다. 대략 190nm 두께에서 FTO 박막의 표면저항과 비슷해짐을 알 수 있었으며, 250nm 두께에서 DSSC의 에너지 변환효율 4.24%로 가장 높았다. 더 나아가 DSSC 모듈을 제작해 평가함으로써 상용화의 가능성을 확인하였다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2015년도 제49회 하계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2015

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells have been fabricated using sputtered Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors on Mo coated sodalime glass substrate without using a toxic H2Se and H2S atmosphere. Cu/Sn/Zn metallic precursors with various thicknesses were prepared using DC magnetron sputtering process at room temperature. As-deposited metallic precursors were sulfo-selenized inside a graphite box containing S and Se pellets using rapid thermal processing furnace at various sulfur to selenium (S/Se) compositional ratio. Thin film solar cells were fabricated after sulfo-selenization process using a 65 nm CdS buffer, a 40 nm intrinsic ZnO, a 400 nm Al doped ZnO, and Al/Ni top metal contact. Effects of sulfur to selenium (S/Se) compositional ratio on the microstructure, crystallinity, electrical properties, and cell efficiencies have been studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, I-V measurement system, solar simulator, quantum efficiency measurement system, and time resolved photoluminescence spectrometer. Our fabricated Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cell shows the best conversion efficiency of 9.24 % (Voc : 454.6 mV, Jsc : 32.14 mA/cm2, FF : 63.29 %, and active area : 0.433 cm2), which is the highest efficiency among Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film solar cells prepared using sputter deposited metallic precursors and without using a toxic H2Se gas. Details about other experimental results will be discussed during the presentation.