• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Light induced degradation is one of the major research challenges of hydrogenated amorphous silicon related thin film silicon solar cells. Amorphous silicon shows creation of metastable defect states, originating from elevated concentration of dangling bonds during light exposure. The metastable defect states work as recombination centers, and mostly affects quality of intrinsic layer in solar cells. In this paper we present results of light induced degradation in thin film silicon solar cells and discussion on physical origin, mechanism and practical solutions of light induced degradation in thin film silicon solar cells. In-situ light-soaking IV measurement techniques are presented. We also present thin film silicon material with silicon nano-quantum dots embedded within amorphous matrix, which shows superior stability during light-soaking. Our results suggest that solar cell using silicon nano-quantum dots in abosrber layer shows superior stability under light soaking, compared to the conventional amorphous silicon solar cell.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.94-101
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• 2020

This study was trying to focus on achieving high efficiency of multi junction solar cell with thin film silicon solar cells. The proposed thin film Si-Ge/c-Si tandem junction solar cell concept with a combination of low-cost thin-film silicon solar cell technology and high-efficiency c-Si cells in a monolithically stacked configuration. The tandem junction solar cells using amorphous silicon germanium (a-SiGe:H) as an absorption layer of upper sub-cell were simulated through ASA (Advanced Semiconductor Analysis) simulator for acquiring the optimum structure. Graded Ge composition - effect of E_g profiling and inserted buffer layer between absorption layer and doped layer showed the improved current density (J_sc) and conversion efficiency (η). 13.11% conversion efficiency of the tandem junction solar cell was observed, which is a result of showing the possibility of thin film Si-Ge/c-Si tandem junction solar cell.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-43
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• 2012

In spite of many advantages, the practical application of the thin film solar cell is restricted due to its low efficiency compared with the bulk type solar cells. This study intends to adopt the surface plasmon effect using nano particles to solve the low efficiency problem in thin film solar cells. By inserting Ag nano-particles in the absorbing layer of a thin film solar cell, the poynting vector value of the absorbing layer is increased due to the strong energy field. Increasing the value may give thin film solar cells chance to absorb more energy from the incident beam so that the efficiency of the thin film solar cell can be improved. In this work, we have designed the optimal shape of Ag nano-particle in the absorbing laser of a basic type thin film solar cell using the finite element analysis commercial package COMSOL. Design parameters are set to the particle diameter and the distance between each Ag nano-particle and by changing those parameters using the full factorial design variable set-up, we can determine optimal design of Ag nano-particles for maximizing the poynting vector value in the absorbing layer.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2018

Multijunction solar cells present a practical solution towards a better photovoltaic conversion for a wider spectral range. In this review, we compare different types of multi-ijunction solar cell. First, we introduce thin film multijunction solar cell include to the thin film silicon, III-V material and chalcopyrite material. Until now the maximum reported power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of solar cells having different component sub-cells are 14.0% (thin film silicon), 46% (III-V material), 4.4% (chalcopyrite material) respectively. We then discuss the development of multijunction solar cell in which c-Si is used as bottom sub-cell while III-V material, thin film silicon, chalcopyrite material or perovskite material is used as top sub-cells.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2010

The solar energy conversion will take 10 % global energy need by 2033. A thin film type solar cell has been considered as one of the promising candidates for a large area applicable solar cell fabrication at a low cost. The metal-assisted growth of microcrystalline Si (mc-Si) films has been reported for a quality Si film synthesis at a low temperature. It discusses the spontaneous growth of a Si film above a metal-layer for a thin film solar cell. Quite recently, a substantial demand of nanomaterials has been addressed for cost-effective solar cells. The nanostructure provides a large photoactive surface at a fixed volume, which is an advantage in the effective use of solar power. But the promising of nanostructure active solar cell has not been much fulfilled due mainly to the difficulty in architecture of nanostructures. We present here the Si nanowire (SiNW)-embedded Schottky solar cell. Multiple SiNWs were connected to two different metals to form a Schottky or an ohmic contact according to the metal work function values. It discusses the scheme of rectifying contact between metals and SiNWs and the SiNW-embedded Schottky solar cell performances.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.317-321
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• 2019

We investigated the characteristics of nano crystalline silicon(nc-Si) thin-film solar cells on graphite substrates. Amorphous silicon(a-Si) thin-film solar cells on graphite plates show low conversion efficiency due to high surface roughness, and many recombination by dangling bonds. In previous studies, we deposited barrier films by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition(PECVD) on graphite plate to reduce surface roughness and achieved ~7.8 % cell efficiency. In this study, we fabricated nc-Si thin film solar cell on graphite in order to increase the efficiency of solar cells. We achieved 8.45 % efficiency on graphite plate and applied this to nc-Si on graphite sheet for flexible solar cell applications. The characterization of the cell is performed with external quantum efficiency(EQE) and current density-voltage measurements(J-V). As a result, we obtain ~8.42 % cell efficiency in a flexible solar cell fabricated on a graphite sheet, which performance is similar to that of cells fabricated on graphite plates.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.377-377
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• 2009

Currently, new and renewable energy come into the spotlight, such as solar energy, wind power, fuel cell, hybrid car etc., due to the energy resources is being depleted. In order to solve like this problem, we addressed the roll to roll printing machine for the thin film solar cell by using printing technology. For the this research, we archived concept design and verified propriety.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.1146-1150
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• 2009

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is one of the most attractive photovoltaic materials due to its low cost, high efficiency and stable performance in physical, optical and electronic properties. Few researches on the influences of uniform surface on the photovoltaic characteristics in large-area CdTe solar cell were not reported. As the preceding study of the effects of thickness-uniformity on the photovoltaic characteristics for the large-area CdTe thin film solar cell, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was investigated for an enhancement of thickness-uniformity. Removal rate of CdTe thin film was 3160 nm/min of the maximum value at the 200 $gf/cm^2$ of down force (pressure) and 60 rpm of table speed (velocity). The removal rate of CdTe thin film was more affected by the down force than the table speed which is the two main factors directly influencing on the removal rate in CMP process. RMS roughness and peak-to-valley roughness of CdTe thin film after CMP process were improved to 96.68% and 85.55%, respectively. The optimum process condition was estimated by 100 $gf/cm^2$ of down force and 60 rpm of table speed with the consideration of good removal uniformity about 5.0% as well as excellent surface roughness for the large-area CdTe solar cell.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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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%.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.93.2-93.2
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• 2010

Recently, printing and coating technologies application fields have been expanded to the energy field such as solar cell. One of the main reasons, why many researchers have been interested in printing technology as a manufacturing method, is the reduction of manufacturing cost. In this paper, We fabricated CIGS solar cell thin film layer by doctor blade methods using synthesis of CIS precursor nanoparticles ink on molybdenum (Mo) coated soda-lime glass substrate. Synthesis CIS precursor nanoparticles ink fabrication was mixed Cu, In, Se powder and Ethylenediamine, using microwave and centrifuging. Using multi coating process as we could easily fabrication a fine flatness CIS thin-film layer ($0.7{\sim}1.35{\mu}m$), and reduce a manufacture cost and process steps. Also if we use printing and coating method and solution process in each layer of CIGS solar cell (electrode, buffer), it is possible to fabricate all printed thin-film solar cell.