Record Efficiency with Tandem Solar Cells
March 4, 2016 | TU EindhovenEstimated reading time: 1 minute
On Thursday Alice Furlan receives her PhD for her study in which she experimented with stacking different types of material layers in flexible, thin solar cells. By combining these with a thin layer of silicon into a ‘tandem solar cell’ she, along with researchers from TU Delft, achieved a record level of efficiency in this kind of hybrid solar cell.
Flexible, plastic solar cells are an attractive alternative to the current standard crystalline silicon solar cells (with their characteristic gray-blue color). Using organic materials makes for easier and cheaper production while the printable, bendable character means they can be used in a wide variety of situations. The problem, however, is the yield.
Plastic combination
In her PhD thesis, Alice Furlan, PhD student in the Molecular Materials and Nanosystems group of professor René Janssen at the Department of Chemical Engineering, tested how you can best combine two or three different layers of semi-conductive plastic. Given that each type of plastic absorbs a different color light, the idea is that by combining these, you can utilize a larger portion of the incoming sunlight. Furlan also looked at the electrical connections between the different layers, where losses tend to be greatest.
Marriage
She hit the jackpot of her research together with colleagues from TU Delft, combining the Eindhoven plastic cells with thin layers of amorphous silicon to a ‘tandem solar cell’. This ‘marriage’ of two different kinds of absorption material – silicon and plastic – led to an efficiency of 13.2%. Never before had such cells generated such a high yield. The findings have been published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Combining strengths
Where the plastic used is mainly a strong absorber of infrared light, the silicon converts light from the visible and ultraviolet spectrum. In this way the method combines the aforementioned advantages of plastics with the broad absorption property of silicon. For the science researchers themselves there was also a kind of ‘marriage’: two disciplines (plastic and silicon solar cells) joining forces where they would normally have worked fully independently of each other.
Curriculum Vitae
Alice Furlan (1987, Italy) studied Materials Engineering at the University of Trieste in Italy. As an Erasmus student she was able to study for a year at TU Delft and follow an internship at the Molecular Materials and Nanosystems group of prof.dr.ir. René Janssen at TU Eindhoven. In 2012 she began her PhD in this group.
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Sustainability in the Industry
04/26/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Henry Crandall and Chris Nash of Indium Corporation discuss the company's 90th anniversary and its focus on sustainability. They focus on the benefits of sustainable materials, their compatibility, and value propositions. The conversation also highlights how Durafuse LT technology's role in reducing reflow temperatures is leading to significant cost and energy savings. Nash also touches on downstream sustainability efforts such as using recycled materials for packaging.
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard
04/10/2024 | Michael Ford, Aegis SoftwareNo one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.
iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
04/04/2024 | iNEMIThe International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.