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Study of optical losses in mechanically stacked dye-sensitized/CdTe tandem solar cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2013

Vincent Barrioz ,
Simon Hodgson ,
Peter Holliman ,
Arthur Connell ,
Giray Kartopu ,
Andrew J. Clayton ,
Stuart J.C. Irvine ,
Shafiul Monir  and
Matthew L. Davies
Vincent Barrioz*
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Simon Hodgson
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Peter Holliman
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
Arthur Connell
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
Giray Kartopu
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Andrew J. Clayton
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Stuart J.C. Irvine
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Shafiul Monir
Affiliation:
Centre for Solar Energy Research, Glyndŵr University, OpTIC, St Asaph, LL17 0JD, UK.
Matthew L. Davies
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
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Abstract

In a constant effort to capture effectively more of the spectral range from the sun, multi-junction cells are being investigated. In this context, the marriage of thin film and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) PV technologies may be able to offer greater efficiency whilst maintaining the benefits of each individual technology. DSC devices offer advantages in the nature of both the metal oxide photo-electrode and dye absorption bands, which can be tuned to vary the optical performance of this part of a tandem device, while CdTe cells absorb the majority of light above their band-gap in only a few microns of thickness. The key challenge is to assess the optical losses with the goal of reaching a net gain in photocurrent and consequently increased conversion efficiency. This study reports on the influence of optical losses from various parts of the stacked tandem structure using UV-VIS spectrometry and EQE measurements. A net gain in photocurrent was achieved from a model developed for the DSC/CdTe mechanically stacked tandem structure.

Keywords

photovoltaicoptical propertiesabsorption
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1538: Symposium C – Compound Semiconductors: Thin-Film Photovoltaics, LEDs and Smart Energy Controls , 2013 , pp. 221 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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References

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