Doped emitters to unlock lowest cost solar electricity

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: CREST

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description We have discovered that ZnO is an excellent emiiter for thin film CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells. We have achieved 21.4% efficiency. The emiiter is environmentally stable.
Exploitation Route Could be implemented in manufacturing by First Solar Inc
Sectors Energy

URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.202312528
 
Description Possible to use in manufacturing solar modules by First Solar Inc or CTF Solar GmbH
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Energy
Impact Types Economic

 
Description EPSRC Energy Theme EDI Workshop
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Member of the Innoivation sub-group of the Solar Task Force at DESNZ
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact Recommendations to increase the use of solar in the UK energy mix.
 
Description Physics and the green economy
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://downloads.iop.org/IOP-Physics-Powering-the-Green-Economy.pdf
 
Description national centre for high resolution cathodoluminescence of photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices
Amount £2,660,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/X030245/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 01/2026
 
Title National Cathodoluminesence facility for photovoltaivs and optoelectronics. 
Description Cathodoluminescence on an Scanning and a Transmission electron microscope. Technique is able to probe the efficiency of solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Facility has just been partially installed. Already showing the impact of crystal defects on the efficiency of PV devices. 
URL https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/lmcc/facilities/national-facility-highresolution-cathodolumin/
 
Description Doped emitter project 
Organisation First Solar, Inc
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of n-type doped emitter layers for thin film CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells. Electrical and materials characterization using hall effect, TEM, EBSD, EDX and XPS.
Collaborator Contribution Swansea: The development of arsenic doped CdSeTe/CdTe absorber layers. Complete devices and J-V performance measurements Pilkington: Supply of glass substrates coated with a transparent conducting oxide. Expertise on glass and high resistance transparent buffer layers First Solar: Allowed Loughborough student to be seconded to the California Technology Center for 3 months. Deposited devices on Loughborough emitters.
Impact 2 Publications to date 19.7% efficient solar cells
Start Year 2019
 
Description Doped emitter project 
Organisation NSG Nippon Sheet Glass Pilkington
Country Japan 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The development of n-type doped emitter layers for thin film CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells. Electrical and materials characterization using hall effect, TEM, EBSD, EDX and XPS.
Collaborator Contribution Swansea: The development of arsenic doped CdSeTe/CdTe absorber layers. Complete devices and J-V performance measurements Pilkington: Supply of glass substrates coated with a transparent conducting oxide. Expertise on glass and high resistance transparent buffer layers First Solar: Allowed Loughborough student to be seconded to the California Technology Center for 3 months. Deposited devices on Loughborough emitters.
Impact 2 Publications to date 19.7% efficient solar cells
Start Year 2019
 
Description Doped emitter project 
Organisation Swansea University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The development of n-type doped emitter layers for thin film CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells. Electrical and materials characterization using hall effect, TEM, EBSD, EDX and XPS.
Collaborator Contribution Swansea: The development of arsenic doped CdSeTe/CdTe absorber layers. Complete devices and J-V performance measurements Pilkington: Supply of glass substrates coated with a transparent conducting oxide. Expertise on glass and high resistance transparent buffer layers First Solar: Allowed Loughborough student to be seconded to the California Technology Center for 3 months. Deposited devices on Loughborough emitters.
Impact 2 Publications to date 19.7% efficient solar cells
Start Year 2019
 
Description First Solar Inc 
Organisation First Solar, Inc
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Joint research and publications.
Collaborator Contribution Joint reserach and publications.
Impact Record efficiency for a ZnO/CdSeTe/CdTe device
Start Year 2022
 
Title COVER SHEET FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL 
Description A cover sheet (7) for a photovoltaic panel (4), the cover sheet (7) comprising a transparent substrate (8) and a coating (9) on the substrate (8), the coating (9) being such that the cover sheet (8) is more reflective to light of a first range of wavelengths in the infrared spectrum than to a second range of wavelengths in the visible spectrum; in which the coating (9) comprises alternating layers of first (11, 13) and second (12, 14) materials, with the first material (11, 13) having a higher refractive index than the second material (12, 14) and being a transparent conducting oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Methods of manufacture including annealing the first material and/or depositing it at elevated temperatures are also discussed. 
IP Reference US2022077337 
Protection Patent / Patent application
Year Protection Granted 2022
Licensed No
Impact Discussions on licensing progressing
 
Description Member of the Solar Task Force, Innovation sub-group, DESNZ 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Member of the Innovation sub group of the solar Task Force of DESNZ. To prepare a report on innovation required to achieve 70GW of solar installed in the UK by 2035
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Thin film CdTe photovoltaics workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop hled at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado by invitation only. Thin film CdTe PV is the most important second generation solar technology.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Visiting Professor Colorado State University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Collaboration between Loughborough University and Colorado State University
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021,2022,2023