EAGER: TDM solar cells: Towards Low Cost Manufacturing of 30% Monolithic Perovskite/CuInSe2 Tandems with Solution Processing and Novel Carbon Nanotube Tunnel Junctions

摘要：在过去的5-10年里，由于科学和工程的进步，太阳能电池板已经成为一种经济可行的发电方式，用于家庭、工业和交通运输。事实上，从太阳能电池中提供清洁能源的成本在短短6年内就降低了一半，因此，该行业的就业机会急剧增加。该项目专注于开发下一代太阳能电池技术，通过新的设计和制造技术，将进一步降低成本，同时提高整体性能。由于太阳能电池板技术尚未成熟，如果能够克服最近发现的工程和科学障碍，可能会给社会带来巨大的利益。一个关键的目标是实施新的材料、制造工艺和表征工具，以提高入射阳光转化为电能的比例。目前的商业太阳能电池板设计在设备中使用单个吸收半导体层，理论上最多只能将太阳光中的能量转换为30%的电能。到目前为止，已经达到了这个最大值的大约三分之二。下一代概念涉及在所谓的“串联”装置结构中使用两个吸收半导体层，这将允许入射太阳光转换为电能的理论最大值约为45%。虽然高效率的串联已经由高成本的材料制造出来用于空间电源，但这些电池的成本太高，无法在地面上大规模使用。该项目将采用一种新颖的策略，使不同的半导体材料协同工作，并促进由此产生的高效率串联太阳能电池的低成本生产技术。重要的是，我们将使用的方法确保开发的设备将适合大批量生产。该项目整合了学生的教育机会以及与利益相关者的外展努力，旨在增加我们的科学和工程劳动力的多样性，并扩大该项目的影响。技术描述在这个项目中，基于新型溶液可加工单壁碳纳米管隧道结的能力，将开发一种新的通用方法，用于从不同材料制造单片串联。这种方法将为释放大规模生产高效、低成本的陆地单片集成串联太阳能电池的潜力创造途径。总体研究计划预计将导致PCE为30%的串联。该研究计划利用现有的真空共蒸发生产的高效CuIn1-xGaxSe2 （CIGS）器件，以及通过溶液处理生产基于CH3NH3PbI3的高效CIGS和钙钛矿器件的能力，朝着全溶液处理单片集成串联的方向发展，可以在一个连续的低成本制造过程中制造。作为研究的一个组成部分，分析将通过光谱椭偏仪和激光束感应电压和电流响应测量来进行，这将指导合成工作。这些工具将能够深入模拟串联电池的性能，并将加快调整带隙比和层厚度，以确保最佳的收集和电池之间的电流匹配。

AbstractThe nontechnical description As a result of progress in science and engineering over the past 5-10 years, solar panels have become an economically viable means for generating electricity for homes, industries, and transportation. In fact, the cost of providing clean power from solar cells has been cut in half in only 6 years, and consequently, the number of jobs in the industry has skyrocketed. This project focuses on developing next generation solar cell technologies through new designs and manufacturing techniques that will reduce costs further while increasing overall performance. Since solar panel technology has yet to reach maturity, tremendous benefits for society are possible if recently identified engineering and science hurdles can be overcome. A key goal is to implement new materials, manufacturing processes, and characterization tools to enhance the fraction of incident sunlight that is converted to electrical power. Current commercial solar panel designs use a single absorbing semiconductor layer in the device that allows a theoretical maximum of only ~30% conversion of the power in sunlight to electricity. To date, approximately two-thirds of this maximum has been reached. Next generation concepts involve the use of two absorbing semiconducting layers in the so-called "tandem" device structure which will allow a theoretical maximum of ~45% conversion of the incident sunlight to electrical power. Although high efficiency tandems have been fabricated from high cost materials for use in space power, the cost of these cells is too high for large-scale terrestrial use. This project will use a novel strategy that enables dissimilar semiconductor materials to work together and promotes low-cost production technologies of the resulting high efficiency tandem solar cells. Importantly, the approach we will use ensures that the developed devices will be amenable to high-volume manufacturing. The project integrates educational opportunities for students as well as outreach efforts to stakeholders, both designed to increase diversity in our science and engineering workforce and to broaden the impact of this project.The technical descriptionIn this project a new general approach will be developed for fabricating monolithic tandems from dissimilar materials, based on the capabilities of novel solution processable single-wall carbon nanotube tunnel junctions. This approach will create avenues for unlocking the mass production potential of high efficiency, low cost monolithically integrated tandem solar cells for terrestrial use. The general research plan is expected to lead to tandems with a PCE 30%. The research program leverages existing high efficiency CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) devices produced by vacuum co-evaporation and capabilities for producing high efficiency CIGS and perovskite devices based on CH3NH3PbI3 by solution processing in a move toward an all-solution processed monolithically integrated tandem that can be fabricated in one continuous, low-cost manufacturing process. As an integral part of the research, analysis will be performed via spectroscopic ellipsometry and laser beam-induced voltage and current response measurements that will guide the synthesis work. These tools will enable in-depth simulations for understanding of tandem cell performance and will expedite adjustment of the band-gap ratios and layer thicknesses to insure optimal collection and current matching between cells.