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Complex Investigation of High Efficiency and Reliable Heterojunction Solar Cell Based on an Improved Cu 2 O Absorber Layer

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  • Laurentiu Fara

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
    Academy of Romanian Scientists, 050091 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Irinela Chilibon

    (National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE-2000), 077125 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ørnulf Nordseth

    (Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), P.O. Box 40, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway)

  • Dan Craciunescu

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Dan Savastru

    (National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE-2000), 077125 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristina Vasiliu

    (National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE-2000), 077125 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Laurentiu Baschir

    (National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics (INOE-2000), 077125 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Silvian Fara

    (Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Raj Kumar

    (Department of Physics/Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway)

  • Edouard Monakhov

    (Department of Physics/Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway)

  • James P. Connolly

    (GeePs (Group of electrical engineering—Paris), UMR CNRS 8507, CentraleSupélec, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, 11 rue Joliot-Curie, 91192 Plateau de Moulon, Gif-sur-Yvette CEDEX, France)

Abstract

This study is aimed at increasing the performance and reliability of silicon-based heterojunction solar cells with advanced methods. This is achieved by a numerical electro-optical modeling and reliability analysis for such solar cells correlated with experimental analysis of the Cu 2 O absorber layer. It yields the optimization of a silicon tandem heterojunction solar cell based on a ZnO/Cu 2 O subcell and a c-Si bottom subcell using electro-optical numerical modeling. The buffer layer affinity and mobility together with a low conduction band offset for the heterojunction are discussed, as well as spectral properties of the device model. Experimental research of N-doped Cu 2 O thin films was dedicated to two main activities: (1) fabrication of specific samples by DC magnetron sputtering and (2) detailed characterization of the analyzed samples. This last investigation was based on advanced techniques: morphological (scanning electron microscopy—SEM and atomic force microscopy—AFM), structural (X-ray diffraction—XRD), and optical (spectroscopic ellipsometry—SE and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR). This approach qualified the heterojunction solar cell based on cuprous oxide with nitrogen as an attractive candidate for high-performance solar devices. A reliability analysis based on Weibull statistical distribution establishes the degradation degree and failure rate of the studied solar cells under stress and under standard conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurentiu Fara & Irinela Chilibon & Ørnulf Nordseth & Dan Craciunescu & Dan Savastru & Cristina Vasiliu & Laurentiu Baschir & Silvian Fara & Raj Kumar & Edouard Monakhov & James P. Connolly, 2020. "Complex Investigation of High Efficiency and Reliable Heterojunction Solar Cell Based on an Improved Cu 2 O Absorber Layer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:18:p:4667-:d:410412
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sharma, Vikrant & Chandel, S.S., 2013. "Performance and degradation analysis for long term reliability of solar photovoltaic systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 753-767.
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    1. Laurentiu Fara & Irinela Chilibon & Dan Craciunescu & Alexandru Diaconu & Silvian Fara, 2023. "Review: Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells on Si-Based Metal Oxides," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-31, March.

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