Domain size control in all-polymer solar cells

Multilength-Scale Morphological Engineering for Stable Organic Solar Cells

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have garnered significant attention owing to the light weight, flexibility, and low cost. Continuous improvement in molecular design, morphology control, and device fabrication has propelled the power conversion efficiency of OSCs beyond 20%. While obtaining long-term device stability is still a critical obstacle for the commercialization of OSCs. The nano- and microstructural characteristics of the active layer morphology-including molecular stacking, phase separation, and domain sizes-play a pivotal role in determining device performance. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of how film structure impacting device stability and the methods to control film morphology are vital for improving device lifetime. This review seeks to elucidate the structure-performance relationship between active layer morphology from the nanoscale to microscale and device stability. It can provide rational guidance to enhance device stability from morphology control, accelerating the commercialization of OSCs.

Newly predicted halide perovskites Mg3AB3 (A = N, Bi; B = F, Br, I) for next-generation photovoltaic applications: a first-principles study

The research examines the exceptional physical characteristics of Mg3AB3 (A = N, Bi; B = F, Br, I) perovskite compounds through density functional theory to assess their feasibility for photovoltaic applications. Mechanical characterization further supports their stability where out of all the compounds, Mg3BiI3 demonstrates high ductility, while Mg3NF3 and Mg3BiBr3 possess a brittle nature. The calculated elastic constants and anisotropy factors also substantiate their mechanical stability, while there is an observed declining trend in Debye temperature with increase in atomic number. From the electronic point of view, Mg3NF3 can be considered as a wide-bandgap insulator with the bandgap of 6.789 eV, whereas Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 can be classified as semiconductors suitable for photovoltaic applications bandgaps of 1.626 eV and 0.867 eV, respectively. The optical characteristics of such materials are excellent and pronounced by high absorption coefficients, low reflectivity, and good dielectrics, which are very important in the collection of solar energy. Among them, Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 possess high light absorption coefficient, moderate reflectivity, and good electrical conductivity, indicating that they are quite suitable for applying the photoelectric conversion materials for solar cells. In addition, thermal analysis shows that Mg3NF3 is a good heat sink material, Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 are favorable for thermal barrier coating materials. Due to their high absorption coefficients, low reflectance and suitable conductivity, both Mg3BiBr3 and Mg3BiI3 could be regarded as the most appropriate materials for the creation of the next generation of photovoltaic converters.

Computational investigation on physical properties of lead based perovskite RPbBr3 (R = Cs, Hg, and Ga) materials for photovoltaic applications

In the modern era, the major problem is solving energy production and consumption. For this purpose, perovskite materials meet these issues and fulfill energy production at a low cost. Density functional theory and the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) are used to examine the characteristics of the cubic inorganic perovskites RPbBr3 (R = Cs, Hg, and Ga). In the context of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), the ultrasoft pseudo-potential plane wave technique and the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional are used for investigations. Structural, mechanical, electronics, and optical properties are investigated using CASTEP code. According to structural properties, compounds have a cubic nature with space 221 (Pm3m). Compounds formation energy (- 3.46, - 2.21, and - 3.14 eV)of (CsPbBr3, HgPbBr3, and GaPbBr3) and phonon calculations are studied and find that compounds are stable. The results of our investigation show that the compounds have narrow bandgaps of direct kind, with 1.85 eV for CsPbBr3, 1.56 eV for HgPbBr3, and 1.71 eV for GaPbBr3, respectively, indicating that they may be used to improve conductivity. Additionally, anisotropy (2.135, 3.651, 10.602), Pugh's ratio (1.87, 2.25, 2.14), and Poison's ratio (0.27, 0.31, 0.29) are traits that the compounds (CsPbBr3, HgPbBr3, GaPbBr3) display a ductile nature. The CsPbBr3 compound showed significant optical conductivity and absorption in terms of their optical properties, especially in the visible region, which makes them suitable for use in solar cell applications as well as for LED applications.

Dual Function of the Third Component in Ternary Organic Solar Cells: Broaden the Spectrum and Optimize the Morphology

Ternary organic solar cells (T-OSCs) have attracted significant attention as high-performance devices. In recent years, T-OSCs have achieved remarkable progress with power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 19%. However, the introduction of the third component complicates the intermolecular interaction compared to the binary blend, resulting in poor controllability of active layer and limiting performance improvement. To address these issues, dual-functional third components have been developed that not only broaden the spectral range but also optimize morphology. In this review, the effect of the third component on expanding the absorption range of T-OSCs is first discussed. Second, the extra functions of the third component are introduced, including adjusting the crystallinity and molecular stack in active layer, regulating phase separation and purity, altering molecular orientation of the donor or acceptor. Finally, a summary of the current research progress is provided, followed by a discussion of future research directions.

A Smart Sensors-Based Solar-Powered System to Monitor and Control Tube Well for Agriculture Applications

Agricultural productivity plays a vital role in a country’s economy, which can be increased by providing the proper water needed for crops. Proper water provision ensures suitable moisture and appropriate conditions essential for crops, water resource preservation, minimized water wastage, and energy consumption. However, adequate water provision is challenging due to intermittent and uncertain environmental and weather conditions. On this note, a model with uncertain and stochastic conditions (rain, wet, dry, humidity, and moisture) capturing abilities is needed. Thus, a smart-sensors-based solar-powered system is developed for monitoring and controlling the tube well that ensures proper water provision to crops. The developed system properly checks weather and environmental conditions (rain, temperature, irradiance, humidity, etc.), soil conditions (wet or dry), and crop conditions to monitor and regulate water flow accordingly to minimize water and energy consumption wastage. The developed system is an integrated system of four modules: Arduino with a built-in Atmel AT mega microcontroller, sensors, solar power, and a global system for mobile communication (GSM). The GSM module exchanges acknowledgement messages with the operator and controller about the various statuses, such as weather and environmental conditions, soil conditions (wet or dry), crop conditions, and the toggle status of the motor (OFF, ON/main power supply, or solar power). In order for the controller module to determine the motor state, the sensors module computes many parameters, including rain, wet, dry, humidity, and moisture. In addition, the sensor module also prevents the motor from dry running. The developed smart irrigation system is superior to existing irrigation systems in aspects of water wastage and energy consumption minimization.

Kirigami-inspired Automatically Self-inclining Bifacial Solar Cell Arrays to Enhance Energy Yield under Both Sunny and Cloudy Conditions

The application of photovoltaics (PVs) is expanding in various locations ranging from industrial facilities to residential housing. The emphasized concept in the PVs field is shifting from “watt-per-cost” to “energy-yield-per-watt.” To attain a high energy yield, fixed modules are not well suited to capture both direct and omnidirectional light. To achieve a high energy yield under both light conditions, we propose a self-inclining bifacial solar cell array fabricated by integrating a photothermal actuator, which senses incident light by itself, and actuating solar cells that incline at the appropriate angle to maximize captured light. In the vertical illumination state, the specific power of the self-inclining bifacial two-cell array is 11% higher than a fixed-angle aligned array. In an outside environment with a large proportion of diffused light, the self-inclining bifacial two-cell array also shows higher performance. We expect this work to enable PVs to be applied without regard to weather conditions.

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Proposing self-inclinable bifacial solar cell array depends on the weather condition

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It can automatically change its alignment angle using a photothermal actuator

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By self-incline at the appropriate angle, maximize captured light

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It shows better performance under predominantly diffused incident light

Zirconium-based cubic-perovskite materials for photocatalytic solar cell applications: a DFT study

The structural, electronic, optical, and mechanical characteristics of cubic inorganic perovskites XZrO3 (X = Rb and K) were studied using the Cambridge serial total energy package-based DFT.