Author: Anna Elisabeth FrankPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Synthesis and In-depth Electron Microscopic Characterization of Solvothermally Grown Copper Indium Sulfide Thin Films
Solution Processing for Copper Indium Sulfide Solar Cells
Author: Stephen Thacker ConnorPublisher: Stanford University
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 99
Book Description
In recent years, the field of photovoltaics has become increasingly important due to rising energy demand and climate change. While most solar cells are currently composed of crystalline silicon, devices with thinner films of inorganic absorber materials might allow production at a greater scale due to their lower materials cost. In particular, thin films of CuInS2 are promising solar absorber materials due to their high efficiencies and low required thicknesses. However, the fabrication of thin film solar cells currently requires expensive vacuum techniques. As an alternative, solution-based deposition techniques have been proposed as a route to low-cost and high-throughput electronic device fabrication. I have studied how film growth depends on solutuion deposited precursor film quality, with the goal of producing large grained films of CuInS2 through solution processing. In the first approach, we used solvothermal decomposition of organometallic precursors at moderate temperatures to produce nanoparticles of CuInS2. Thin films of these nanoparticles were cast onto molybdenum coated glass and further processed to create CuInS2 solar cells. We found that performance was dependent on film porosity, grain size, and stoichiometry of the nanoparticles. Films with grain sizes of ~200nm were attained, from which 1.3% efficient solar cells were made. In addition, we showed that this synthesis could be extended to produce CuInS2 nanoparticles with partial substitution of Fe, Zn, and Ga. In the second approach, we synthesized an air-stable hybrid organometallic/nanoparticle ink at room temperature in ambient conditions through a vulcanization reaction. This ink could be coated onto substrates in smooth layers, and further reactive annealing formed large grained CuInS2 films. This process was characterized, and a correlation between residual carbon and grain growth was found. Additionally, the chemical transformation between precursor layers and final sulfide thin film was analyzed, with an emphasis on the difference between sulfurization and selenization. We demonstrated that the sulfurization process was producing morphological defects due to its nucleation limited growth mechanism. However, it was modified to more closely resemble the diffusion limited selenization mechanism, thus producing flat films of CuInS2 with grain sizes of ~500nm.
Solution Processing for Copper Indium Sulfide Solar Cells
Author: Stephen Thacker ConnorPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
In recent years, the field of photovoltaics has become increasingly important due to rising energy demand and climate change. While most solar cells are currently composed of crystalline silicon, devices with thinner films of inorganic absorber materials might allow production at a greater scale due to their lower materials cost. In particular, thin films of CuInS2 are promising solar absorber materials due to their high efficiencies and low required thicknesses. However, the fabrication of thin film solar cells currently requires expensive vacuum techniques. As an alternative, solution-based deposition techniques have been proposed as a route to low-cost and high-throughput electronic device fabrication. I have studied how film growth depends on solutuion deposited precursor film quality, with the goal of producing large grained films of CuInS2 through solution processing. In the first approach, we used solvothermal decomposition of organometallic precursors at moderate temperatures to produce nanoparticles of CuInS2. Thin films of these nanoparticles were cast onto molybdenum coated glass and further processed to create CuInS2 solar cells. We found that performance was dependent on film porosity, grain size, and stoichiometry of the nanoparticles. Films with grain sizes of ~200nm were attained, from which 1.3% efficient solar cells were made. In addition, we showed that this synthesis could be extended to produce CuInS2 nanoparticles with partial substitution of Fe, Zn, and Ga. In the second approach, we synthesized an air-stable hybrid organometallic/nanoparticle ink at room temperature in ambient conditions through a vulcanization reaction. This ink could be coated onto substrates in smooth layers, and further reactive annealing formed large grained CuInS2 films. This process was characterized, and a correlation between residual carbon and grain growth was found. Additionally, the chemical transformation between precursor layers and final sulfide thin film was analyzed, with an emphasis on the difference between sulfurization and selenization. We demonstrated that the sulfurization process was producing morphological defects due to its nucleation limited growth mechanism. However, it was modified to more closely resemble the diffusion limited selenization mechanism, thus producing flat films of CuInS2 with grain sizes of ~500nm.
Growth and Characterization of Thin Films of Copper Indium Diselenide and Copper Indium Disulfide for Photovoltaic Applications
Author: Malayanath JeediPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Solar cells
Languages : en
Pages : 166
Book Description
Electrodeposition and Characterization of Copper Oxide Thin Films
Author: Stuart BogatkoPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Thin films
Languages : en
Pages : 130
Book Description
Growth and Characterization of Layered Copper Indium Diselenide Thin Films
Author: Shuchi SharmaGrowth and Characterization of Copper Indium Boron Diselenide Thin Films
Author: Tobin J. SanteroNanostructured Materials for Type III Photovoltaics
Author: Peter SkabaraPublisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
ISBN: 178801250X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 532
Book Description
Materials for type III solar cells have branched into a series of generic groups. These include organic ‘small molecule’ and polymer conjugated structures, fullerenes, quantum dots, copper indium gallium selenide nanocrystal films, dyes/TiO2 for Grätzel cells, hybrid organic/inorganic composites and perovskites. Whilst the power conversion efficiencies of organic solar cells are modest compared to other type III photovoltaic materials, plastic semiconductors provide a cheap route to manufacture through solution processing and offer flexible devices. However, other types of materials are proving to be compatible with this type of processing whilst providing higher device efficiencies. As a result, the field is experiencing healthy competition between technologies that is pushing progress at a fast rate. In particular, perovskite solar cells have emerged very recently as a highly disruptive technology with power conversion efficiencies now over 20%. Perovskite cells, however, still have to address stability and environmental issues. With such a diverse range of materials, it is timely to capture the different technologies into a single volume of work. This book will give a collective insight into the different roles that nanostructured materials play in type III solar cells. This will be an essential text for those working with any of the devices highlighted above, providing a fundamental understanding and appreciation of the potential and challenges associated with each of these technologies.
Nanocatalysis
Author: Vivek PolshettiwarPublisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118609808
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 670
Book Description
Exhibiting both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic properties, nanocatalysts allow for rapid and selective chemical transformations, with the benefits of excellent product yield and ease of catalyst separation and recovery. This book reviews the catalytic performance and the synthesis and characterization of nanocatalysts, examining the current state of the art and pointing the way towards new avenues of research. Moreover, the authors discuss new and emerging applications of nanocatalysts and nanocatalysis, from pharmaceuticals to fine chemicals to renewable energy to biotransformations. Nanocatalysis features contributions from leading research groups around the world. These contributions reflect a thorough review of the current literature as well as the authors’ first-hand experience designing and synthesizing nanocatalysts and developing new applications for them. The book’s nineteen chapters offer a broad perspective, covering: Nanocatalysis for carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions Nanocatalysis for various organic transformations in fine chemical synthesis Nanocatalysis for oxidation, hydrogenation, and other related reactions Nanomaterial-based photocatalysis and biocatalysis Nanocatalysts to produce non-conventional energy such as hydrogen and biofuels Nanocatalysts and nano-biocatalysts in the chemical industry Readers will also learn about the latest spectroscopic and microscopy tools used in advanced characterization methods that shed new light on nanocatalysts and nanocatalysis. Moreover, the authors offer expert advice to help readers develop strategies to improve catalytic performance. Summarizing and reviewing all the most important advances in nanocatalysis over the last two decades, this book explains the many advantages of nanocatalysts over conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing the information and guidance needed for designing green, sustainable catalytic processes.
Recent Trends in Materials Science and Applications
Author: Jeyasingh EbenezarPublisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319448900
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 731
Book Description
This book gathers the proceedings of the plenary sessions, invited lectures, and papers presented at the International Conference on Recent Trends in Materials Science and Applications (ICRTMSA-2016). It also features revealing presentations on various aspects of Materials Science, such as nanomaterials, photonic crystal fibers, quantum dots, thin film techniques, crystal growth, spectroscopic procedures, fabrication and characterisation of new materials / compounds with enhanced features, and potential applications in nonlinear optical and electro-optic devices, solar cell device, chemical sensing, biomedical imaging, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, energy storage device etc. This book will be of great interest to beginning and seasoned researchers alike.