The role of defects in thin film solar cells explained using Density Functional Theory
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Thin film solar cells are a competitive option for energy production with a number of companies expanding their capacity. Crucial to the optimum performance of the solar cells is the need to limit the number of electrically active defects. Recently at CREST, High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) has shown that chlorine at the grain boundaries removes electrically active stacking faults. The scientific reason for this is not understood. By using a combination of first principle quantum mechanical calculations and HRTEM, we aim to understand the role of defects and use this knowledge to design photovoltaic cells with improved efficiency.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Pooja Goddard (Primary Supervisor) | |
Michael Watts (Student) |
Publications
Hatton P
(2022)
Arsenic doping and diffusion in CdTe: a DFT study of bulk and grain boundaries
in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Hatton P
(2022)
Author Correction: Chlorine activated stacking fault removal mechanism in thin film CdTe solar cells: the missing piece.
in Nature communications
Watts MJ
(2020)
Enhancement of photovoltaic efficiency in CdSe x Te1-x (where 0 ? x ? 1): insights from density functional theory.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/N509516/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2021 | |||
1801035 | Studentship | EP/N509516/1 | 30/09/2016 | 30/03/2020 | Michael Watts |