Review: Heterojunction Tandem Solar Cells on Si-Based Metal Oxides

Laurentiu Fara (), Irinela Chilibon, Dan Craciunescu, Alexandru Diaconu and Silvian Fara
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Laurentiu Fara: Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Irinela Chilibon: Development for Optoelectronics (INOE-2000), National Institute of Research, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Dan Craciunescu: Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Diaconu: Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Silvian Fara: Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-31

Abstract: PV technology offers a sustainable solution to the increased energy demand especially based on mono- and polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The most recent years have allowed the successful development of perovskite and tandem heterojunction Si-based solar cells with energy conversion efficiency over 28%. The metal oxide heterojunction tandem solar cells have a great potential application in the future photovoltaic field. Cu 2 O (band gap of 2.07 eV) and ZnO (band gap of 3.3 eV) are very good materials for solar cells and their features completely justify the high interest for the research of tandem heterojunction based on them. This review article analyzes high-efficiency silicon-based tandem heterojunction solar cells (HTSCs) with metal oxides. It is structured on six chapters dedicated to four main issues: (1) fabrication techniques and device architecture; (2) characterization of Cu 2 O and ZnO layers; (3) numerical modelling of Cu 2 O/ZnO HTSC; (4) stability and reliability approach. The device architecture establishes that the HTSC is constituted from two sub-cells: ZnO/Cu 2 O and c-Si. The four terminal tandem solar cells contribute to the increased current density and conversion efficiency. Cu 2 O and ZnO materials are defined as promising candidates for high-efficiency solar devices due to the morphological, structural, and optical characterization emphasized. Based on multiscale modelling of PV technology, the electrical and optical numerical modelling of the two sub-cells of HTSC are presented. At the same time, the thermal stability and reliability approach are essential and needed for an optimum operation of HTSC, concerning the cell lifetime and degradation degree. Further progress on flexible HTSC could determine that such advanced solar devices would become commercially sustainable in the near future.

Keywords: tandem heterojunction solar cell (HTSC); metal oxides; four terminals; morphological; structural and optical characterization; modelling and simulation; stability and reliability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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