N-type solar cell with aluminum-titanium passivating contact achieves 21.9% efficiency
Scientists in Australia have demonstrated a new way to apply a passivating contact layer to silicon cells. They produced an n-type cell with aluminum-titanium passivating contact and 21.9% efficiency, and claimed the technique could open up new possibilities for the use of transition metal oxides in cell passivation.
Solar-plus-storage for LED lighting in commercial buildings
Indian researchers claim that commercial buildings with LED lighting could gain energy independence by installing standalone solar-plus-storage systems. They said a 914.4 kW PV system linked to lithium-ion batteries could be enough to power an entire building with an estimated annual demand of 190,830.7 kWh.
Improving gettering tech for TOPCon solar cells
Scientists in Australia have looked at how gettering technologies could improve passivating contacts based on polysilicon and silicon monoxide (SiOx) for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cells. They found that the gettering strength of the P-doped poly mainly depends on the doping concentration.
Ultra-thin silicon nanoparticle solar cell with 11% efficiency
Iranian scientists have demonstrated a multi-layer silicon nanoparticle (SNP) solar cell based on nanoparticles that are densely stacked inside a dielectric medium. They considered different SNP structures and configurations to tailor these particles as a p–n junction cell.
Chalcopyrite solar cell for tandem applications, photocatalytic water splitting
Japanese scientists have built a chalcopyrite PV device for tandem solar cells and water splitting for hydrogen generation. The device has a power conversion efficiency of 11.05%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.960 V, a short-circuit current density of 15.9 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 72.4%.
Central Electronics opens bidding to supply 3 million polycrystalline solar cells
Manufacturers have until Aug. 16 to submit bids to supply 3 million multicrystalline silicon solar cells featuring five busbars, with peak power ratings of 4.68 W and 4.63 W.
Meyer Burger expects higher prices, lower solar module output
Swiss panel manufacturer Meyer Burger wanted to increase the annual capacity of its production lines this year, but the ramp-up has been delayed due to ongoing bottlenecks in global supply chains.
Inverted perovskite solar cell with 16.94% efficiency
A US-Chinese research group has built a perovskite solar cell with a hole-transporting material (HTM) based on conducting polyaniline (PANI) polymer. The device showed significantly higher efficiency than a reference solar cell relying on an HTM made of commonly used PEDOT:PSS.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Tongwei was largest cell manufacturer in H1 2022
Tongwei was followed by Aiko Solar, Runergy, Solar Space and Jietai Technology. The top five cell manufacturers supplied a total of 59 GW.
Using p-type wafers in heterojunction solar cells, not a lost battle
An international research group has reconstructed the trajectory of p-type wafers in the heterojunction solar cell segment and has identified the lack of knowledge about boron-oxygen related light-induced degradation (BO-LID) as the main cause for the limited adoption of these wafers and the success of their n-type counterparts. According to the scientists, however, there is still big room for improvement for p-type technologies in heterojunction cells.
