Doped emitters to unlock lowest cost solar electricity

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: CREST

Abstract

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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
 
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 National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
Organisation U.S. Department of Energy
Department National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): NREL is a world leading Research Institution for Renewable Energy. NREL has hosted Nayia Arnou, Sona Ulcina and Luis Infante-Ortego (research students) from CREST for 3 month secondments. The visit by Sona Ulcina led to the development a 17.2% efficient perovskite solar cell using an atmospheric spray process. Several joint publications.
Collaborator Contribution Dr Tim Silverman, a senior scientist at NREL is currently on secondment to CREST for 1 year working on degradation mechanisms in silicon modules.
Impact Publications
Start Year 2014
 
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 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