In the last decade, the manufacturing capacity of silicon, the dominant PV technology, has increasingly been concentrated in China. This coincided with PV cost reduction, while, at the same time, posing risks to PV supply chain security. Recent advancements of novel perovskite tandem PV technologies as an alternative to traditional silicon-based PV provide opportunities for diversification of the PV manufacturing capacity and for increasing the GHG emission benefit of solar PV. Against this background, we estimate the current and future cost-competitiveness and GHG emissions of a set of already commercialized as well as emerging PV technologies for different production locations (China, USA, EU), both at residential and utility-scale. We find EU and USA-manufactured thin-film tandems to have 2-4 % and 0.5-2 % higher costs per kWh and 37-40 % and 32-35 % less GHG emissions per kWh at residential and utility-scale, respectively. Our projections indicate that they will also retain competitive costs (up to 2 % higher) and a 20 % GHG emissions advantage per kWh in 2050.

The investigation of hole transport layer-free mesoporous carbon perovskite solar cells by analyzing current-voltage (J-V) curves under different scan rates, light intensities, and temperatures is presented. A distinctive bump in the curves is identified, previously reported in the literature. The voltage at the inflection point of this transition shows a linear correlation with the scan rate, directly yielding a characteristic relaxation time. Increasing temperature demonstrates a reduction in the magnitude and characteristic time of the bump. It also indicates an activation energy of 0.8 eV, suggesting a diffusion mechanism. Importantly, the intensity of the illumination has no influence on the overall behavior, indicating that the phenomenon is not a photovoltaic processes. It is proposed that the bump originates from transition between a metastable state at high scan rates and a stable one reached after relaxation. To accurately replicate the measured J-V curves, a novel lumped circuit model is introduced and validated. A schematic microstructural model depicts the reversible reduction in photocurrent as a decline in charge transfer capacity caused by the diffusion of large ions at the mesoporous titanuim dioxyde interface. Ultimately, this study also suggests a plausible reason for the well-known hysteresis commonly observed with perovskite solar cells.

The intention of this research is to demonstrate how the co-sensitization of organic and inorganic dyes influences the overall performance of the proposed method for DSSCs at low light intensities and enhances the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A maximum efficiency of 6.21% at 108 W/m2 was achieved by the co-sensitization method-fabricated DSSC. The co-sensitized photovoltaic cells work together synergistically to minimize the rate of electron and hole recombination, which leads to an increase in efficiency. The ruthenium-based N719 dye and the organic sensitizer RK1 are used in this co-sensitization approach because both dye-sensitizers have a significant impact on the performance of the DSSC. The proposed solar cells were analyzed using their current-voltage (I-V), incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE), and various DSSC parameters vs time properties. The proposed device has also retained 93.29% of its initial performance even after 1000 h.

Many economic and environmental studies on novel perovskite solar cells (PSCs), published ex post the development stage to investigate the market competitiveness, have focused on laboratory‐scale PSC architectures that are not amenable for upscaling. In this paper, we evaluate the market potential and environmental sustainability of a scalable carbon‐electrode‐based PSC by benchmarking it to the market dominating c‐Si photovoltaics and CIGS thin film photovoltaics. The analysis covers the PSCs full lifecycle, at the module and system levels (residential and utility scale), and is based on realistic annual energy output data derived from energy yield calculations. We find that this PSC can produce electricity at low cost (3–6 €cents/kWh), with lowest energy payback (0.6–0.8 years) and greenhouse gas emissions (15–25g CO2 eq./kWh) compared with grid‐connected PV market alternatives, assuming 25years of lifetime, expected PV system cost reductions, and PSC module recycling and refurbishment.

The demand for lightweight, low-cost, flexible optoelectronic devices poses unique challenges in terms of material selection, mechanical stability, and fabrication processes. The use of flexible substrates requires low-temperature processing and a replacement of brittle transparent conductive oxides such as indium-tin-oxide (ITO), commonly used as transparent electrodes. To this end, dielectric-metal-dielectric (DMD) stacks have emerged as a compelling alternative to ITO. In this study, sputter-deposited, niobium-doped TiO2 (TNO) is investigated for the design of such flexible transparent DMD electrodes. Using DC magnetron sputtering from a conductive oxide target allows for high deposition rates, resulting in transparent TNO films even in inert Ar atmosphere and without substrate heating. The combination with ultrathin Ag and Au layers yields flexible DMD electrodes on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate with visible transmittance above 0.70 and sheet resistance below 10 Omega/sq. Bending tests show superior mechanical stability under tensile stress throughout 3000 bending cycles and down to 3 mm bending radius, proving their compatibility with roll-to-roll production requirements and flexible devices. Further, this study shows that the developed DMD electrodes can be ideally combined with a low-temperature and solution-processed mesoporous TiO2 layer to act as electron transport layer for subsequent implementation in perovskite solar cells. As a proof-of-concept, this approach yielded indiumfree, flexible perovskite solar cells on PET, with a power conversion efficiency of similar to 8%.

The influence of N719 dye-sensitized adsorption on TiO 2 -based photoanode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) is studied and analyzed the UV-Visible absorption spectra of the monolayer titania (TiO 2 ) film and the monolayer titania film sensitized with the commonly used N719 dye. From the absorbance spectra, we have estimated and plotted the optical parameters like transmittance and optical bandgap of the unsensitized titania film and the dye-sensitized titania film based on the appropriate equations. For the development of different configurations for novel DSSCs, this analysis will provide us with a piece of deep knowledge about each material or component before the experimental set-up for DSSC assembly. This approach will be time-saving, cost-effective, and develop innovative ideas for designing novel DSSCs.

Recently, considerable advancement has been made in the progress of fundamental and applied facets of solar cells, especially in light weight materials and inexpensive electrode materials for the development of energy conversion devices. Among these devices, the 3 rd generation type of solar cells i.e., Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) gained a remarkable attention owing to their distinctive features like ease of fabrication, fascinating appearance, etc. Herein, we predominantly concentrate on the performance and stability of the proposed DSSC at indoor and outdoor light intensities.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) is the third generation type of solar cells which is a promising solution to global energy and environmental problems because of its clean, low-cost, easy fabrication procedures and aesthetic features. In this research work, we mainly focus on the performance of DSSCs with UV filter in the presence and absence of staining additive at various light intensities.

The ever-escalating demands for the clean energy and its environment concerns are widely exploring research area in the development of energy conversion devices. There are copious sustainable energy resources available in nature, among them solar energy is considered to be promising and potential energy source due to its inexhaustible and eco-friendly features. Among the photovoltaic devices; Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) gained an extensive development and remarkable attention due to its simple design and fabrication, eco-friendly properties, etc. In the design of DSSC devices, the counter electrode (CE) plays an important role in catalytic activity so, a worthwhile effort is necessary to seek for an active and inexpensive CE material. However, most of the CE materials have been discovered by using ‘trial and error’ method. In this research work, we selected graphene as CE material for analyzing the proposed DSSC performance and alternatively, the experimental data is computed with the help of user friendly simulation tool. Here, the overall proposed DSSC performance demonstrates that the graphene based CE is proficient of being considered for DSSCs during ambient light conditions and that enables to provide progress in the field of indoor light harvesting applications. Meanwhile, for the simulation process we opted MATLAB software package which facilitates to provide a significant path for the prospects and development of photovoltaic technology.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) has been extensively explored as a third generation solar cell due to their simple fabrication procedures, better performance especially under low-light intensities, aesthetic features, etc. DSSCs provide an efficient and simple effectuated technology for prospective energy demands. Computing the experimental data in a high performance platform is really an appreciable task for better understanding and accessibility for photovoltaic technology. In this research paper, we fabricate the proposed DSSC, process the experimental data, as an alternative method we compute the experimental data and obtain I-V and IPCE characteristics by programming in MATLAB.

Six organic dyes have been synthesized and used for the preparation of highly efficient and stable DSSCs. The implementation of one of them in a solar module with a large active area of 1400 cm2 is also presented.

Seven unsymmetrical heptamethine dyes with carboxylic acid functionality were synthesized and characterized. These near-infrared dyes exhibit outstanding photophysical properties depending on their heterocyclic moieties and molecular structure. As proof of principle, the dyes were used as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Using the most promising dye, an overall conversion efficiency of 1.22% and an almost colorless solar cell were achieved.

•Nanosized LDH intercalated with iodine used as additives for DSSC electrolyte.•Addition of increasing amount of iodine has a positive effect on device performances.•Time stability of devices prepared with quasi-solid electrolyte was studied.

•A new transparent, conductive and porous electrode was developed.•It has a high effective surface area available for catalyst molecules attachment.•It is an ideal support for testing new anodic and cathodic photoactive materials.•The proof-of-concept was achieved in an appositely designed water photo-electrolyzer.•The EIS technique was used as a very powerful tool to characterize the new designed electrode.

The use of a synthetic saponite-clay with different morphological features is proposed in this work as additive for DSSC solar cells electrolyte. The dilution of the synthesis gel allowed to decrease the saponite particle size from ca. 200 nm to ca. 50 nm and to obtain samples with different lamellae organization. The influence of these parameters on solar cell performances have been tested by dispersing 5 wt% of the clay in Z-946 liquid electrolyte and using the dispersion as non-liquid electrolyte. The stability of saponite dispersions in methoxyproprionitrile solvent has been studied by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The electrochemical characterization showed that the addition of the saponite sample with the largest particles does not influence the solar cell efficiency, whereas the use of electrolyte having saponite suspension with the smallest particle size led to an increase of solar cell efficiencies of 8% with respect to the reference cell. Finally, tests devoted to investigate the stability over the time of DSSC prepared by using quasi-solid saponite-based electrolytes have been carried out.

Two new organic dyes incorporating triphenylamine as a donor and oligothienylenevinylene as a bridge have been synthesized. The new dyes cover the entire visible region and have a power conversion of up to 6.25%.

[FeFe]-hydrogenases are efficient natural catalysts that can be exploited for hydrogen production. Immobilization of the recombinant [FeFe]-hydrogenase CaHydA was achieved for the first time on an anatase TiO(2) electrode. The enzyme is able to interact and exchange electrons with the electrode and to catalyze hydrogen production with an efficiency of 70%.

The fabrication and full characterization of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) comprising CdSe core/multishell quantum dots (QDs) is reported. TEM analysis shows that the QDs are well dispersed in the acrylic medium while maintaining a high quantum yield of 45%, resulting in highly transparent and luminescent polymer plates. A detailed optical analysis of the QD-LSCs including absorption, emission, and time-resolved fluorescence measurements is presented. Both silicon and GaAs solar cells attached to the side of the QD-LSCs are used to measure the external quantum efficiency and power conversion efficiency (2.8%) of the devices. Stability tests show only a minor decrease of 4% in photocurrent upon an equivalent of three months outdoor illumination. The optical data are used as input for a ray-trace model that is shown to describe the properties of the QD-LSCs well. The model was then used to extrapolate the properties of the small test devices to predict the power conversion efficiency of a 50×50cm2 module with a variety of different solar cells. The work described here gives a detailed insight into the promise of QD-based LSCs.