Low-cost and Large-Area Perovskite-Silicon Solar Tandem Cells

ended

As the world population grows, the total energy demanded increases, despite the limited reserves of fossil energy. Energy sources based on new technologies, such as the photovoltaic cells, emerged as a sustainable and environmentally clean option. However, given that silicon, the base material for most of these cells, fails to absorb the energy of the entire solar spectrum, one interesting option to increase device efficiencies is to produce stacks of complementing cells, thus taking advantage of the full solar spectrum. Tandems of Si and novel perovskite cells are a feasible alternative and can be synthesized from cheap materials. On the other hand, the main requirements of industry are low cost, high throughput and process reliability. Thus, processing techniques and materials should be selected bearing in mind a compromise between cost reduction, acceptable efficiencies and process yield. The aim of this project is to obtain the best suited Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO), as well as the most appropriate synthesis and deposition methods for their implementation in tandem Si/perovskite cells, substituting other layers whose use would involve scarce/strategic materials or difficult and/or expensive processes. The result should be a more robust process, which helps to close the gap between laboratory devices and the future mass production cells.