Predicting solar cell performance from terahertz and microwave
spectroscopy
Date:
March 4, 2022
Source:
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fu"r Materialien und Energie
Summary:
Many semiconducting materials are possible candidates for solar
cells. In recent years, perovskite semiconductors in particular
have attracted attention, as they are both inexpensive and easy
to process and enable high efficiencies. Now a new study shows how
terahertz (TRTS) and microwave spectroscopy (TRMC) can be used to
reliably determine the mobility and lifetime of the charge carriers
in new semiconducting materials. Using these measurement data it
is possible to predict the potential efficiency of the solar cell
in advance and to classify the losses in the finished cell.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Many semiconducting materials are possible candidates for solar cells. In recent years, perovskite semiconductors in particular have attracted
attention, as they are both inexpensive and easy to process and enable
high efficiencies.
Now a new study shows how terahertz (TRTS) and microwave spectroscopy
(TRMC) can be used to reliably determine the mobility and lifetime of the charge carriers in new semiconducting materials. Using these measurement
data it is possible to predict the potential efficiency of the solar
cell in advance and to classify the losses in the finished cell.
==========================================================================
The most important properties of a semiconductor to be used as a solar
cell include the mobility and lifetime of electrons and "holes." Both quantities can be measured without contacts with spectroscopic methods
using terahertz or microwave radiation. However, measurement data found
in literature often differ by orders of magnitude. This has made it
difficult to use them for reliable assessments of material quality.
Reference samples measured "We wanted to get to the bottom of these differences, and contacted experts from a total of 15 international laboratories to analyse typical sources of error and problems with the measurements," says Dr. Hannes Hempel from the HZB team led by Dr. Thomas Unold. The HZB physicists sent reference samples produced by the team
of Dr. Martin Stolterfoht at University Potsdam to each laboratory with
the perovskite semiconductor compound (Cs,FA,MA)Pb(I,Br)3) optimised
for stability.
Better data for better prediction One result of the joint work is the significantly more precise determination of the transport properties with terahertz or microwave spectroscopy. "We could identify some neuralgic
points that have to be considered before the actual measurements takes
place, which allows us to arrive at significantly better agreement of
the results," Hempel emphasises.
Another result of the study: With reliable measurement data and a more
advanced analysis, the characteristics of the solar cell can also be
calculated more precisely. "We believe that this analysis is of great
interest for photovoltaic research, because it predicts the maximum
possible efficiency of the material in a solar cell and reveals the
influence of various loss mechanisms, such as transport barriers,"
says Unold. This applies not only to the material class of perovskite semiconductors, but also to other new semiconducting materials, which
can thus be tested more quickly for their potential suitability.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Helmholtz-Zentrum_Berlin_fu"r_Materialien_und_Energie.
Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Hannes Hempel, Tom J. Savenjie, Martin Stolterfoht, Jens Neu,
Michele
Failla, Vaisakh C. Paingad, Petr Kužel, Edwin J. Heilweil,
Jacob A.
Spies, Markus Schleuning, Jiashang Zhao, Dennis Friedrich, Klaus
Schwarzburg, Laurens D.A. Siebbeles, Patrick Do"rflinger, Vladimir
Dyakonov, Ryuzi Katoh, Min Ji Hong, John G. Labram, Maurizio Monti,
Edward Butler‐Caddle, James Lloyd‐Hughes, Mohammad
M. Taheri, Jason B. Baxter, Timothy J. Magnanelli, Simon Luo,
Joseph M. Cardon, Shane Ardo, Thomas Unold. Predicting Solar Cell
Performance from Terahertz and Microwave Spectroscopy. Advanced
Energy Materials, 2022; 2102776 DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202102776 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220304100955.htm
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