PRINTED SOLAR CELLS AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES ON PAPER SUBSTRATES
ABSTRACT
Paper is a flexible material, commonly used for information storage, writing, packaging, or specialized purposes. It also has strong appeal as a substrate in the field of flexible printed electronics. Many applications, including safety, merchandising, smart labels/packing, and chemical/biomedical sensors, require an energy source to power operation. Here, progress regarding development of photovoltaic and energy storage devices on cellulosic substrates, where one or more of the main material layers are deposited via solution processing or printing, is reviewed. Paper can be used simply as the flexible substrate or, exploiting its porous fiber‐like nature, as an active film by infiltration or copreparation with electronic materials. Solar cells with efficiencies of up to 9% on opaque substrates and 13% on transparent substrates are demonstrated. Recent developments in paper‐based supercapacitors and batteries are also reviewed with maximum achieved capacity of 1350 mF cm−2 and 2000 mAh g−1, respectively. Analyzing the literature, it becomes apparent that more work needs to be carried out in continuing to improve peak performance, but especially stability and the application of printing techniques, even roll‐to‐roll processing, over large areas. Paper is not only environmentally friendly and recyclable, but also thin, flexible, lightweight, biocompatible, and inexpensive.
Francesca Brunetti, Alessandra Operamolla, Sergio Castro‐Hermosa, Giulia Lucarelli, Valerio Manca, Gianluca M. Farinola, Thomas M. Brown
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201806798
Advanced Functional Materials, 30 January 2019
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.201806798
THERMALLY INDUCED FULLERENE DOMAIN COARSENING PROCESS IN ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS
ABSTRACT
The recent advancements in power conversion efficiency for organic solar cells is still complained by their reliability and stability remaining the main bottlenecks for organic photovoltaics large scale production and commercialization. In this paper, we aim to provide further insights understanding in degradation processes affecting stability in small molecule flat heterojunction (Glass/ITO/MoO₃/ZnPc/C₆₀/BCP/Ag) solar cells through a systematic aging study coupled with optoelectrical characterizations. In particular, the burn-in phenomenon affecting short-circuit current in thermal-stressed samples has been clearly correlated with the C₆₀ domain coarsening process and eventually to the decreased exciton lifetime.
Antonio Agresti, Sara Pescetelli, Yan Busby, Tom Aernouts
DOI: 10.1109/TED.2018.2880760
IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices PP(99):1-11 · November 2018
A NOVEL CLASS OF DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR MODULES. GLASS-PLASTIC STRUCTURE FOR MECHANICALLY STABLE DEVICES
ABSTRACT
Owing to its peculiar properties such as transparency, weak angle dependence and improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) at diffused light, DSSCs (Dye Sensitized Solar Cells) are well suited for Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic (BIPV). For large area DSSC devices and modules, one of the main causes of sealing failure is the deformation of the glass substrates due to the sintering process of TiO 2 which occurs significantly at temperatures around 500 °C. The novel class of realized DSSMs (Dye Sensitized Solar Modules) consists in a “Glass/Plastic hybrid” structure with a photo-electrode developed on glass-FTO and a counter-electrode developed on PET-ITO. By adopting this unique solution, it is possible to anneal the photo-electrode at temperatures above 500°C for an optimal TiO 2 sintering and to improve the sturdiness of the devices adapting the flexible counter-electrode on the rigid photo-electrode. Developing the counter-electrode on PET-ITO we halved the thickness and weight of the devices, strengthens the commitment of DSSC technology in BIPV sector where the weights and the volumes occupied by components play a fundamental role in design, fabrication and costs. devices, as alternatives to batteries for small electronic goods market.
Paolo Mariani, Luigi Vesce, Aldo Di Carlo
DOI: 10.1109/RTSI.2018.8548439
2018 IEEE 4th International Forum on Research and Technology for Society and Industry (RTSI) Proceedings
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8548439
Graphene-Engineered Automated Sprayed Mesoscopic Structure for Perovskite Device Scaling-Up
ABSTRACT
One of the most thrilling developments in the photovoltaic field over recent years has been the use of organic–inorganic lead halide perovskite, such as CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3), as a promising new material for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells. Despite the impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 22% demonstrated on lab-scale devices, large-area material deposition procedures and automatized device fabrication protocols are still challenging to achieve high-throughput serial manufacturing of modules and panels. In this work, we demonstrate that spray coating is an effective technique for the production of mesoscopic small- and large-area perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In particular, we report a sprayed graphene-doped mesoporous TiO2 (mTiO2) scaffold for mesoscopic PSCs. By successfully combining the spray coating technique with the insertion of graphene additive into the sprayed mTiO2 scaffold, a uniform film deposition and a significant enhancement of the electron transport/injection at the mTiO2/perovskite electrode is achieved. The use of graphene flakes on the sprayed scaffold boosts the PCE of small-area cells up to 17.5% that corresponds to an increase of more than 15% compared to standard cells. For large-area (1.1 cm2) cells, a PCE up to 14.96% is achieved. Moreover, graphene-doped mTiO2 layer enhances the stability of the PSCs compared to standard devices. The feasibility of PSC fabrication by spray coating deposition of the mesoporous film on large-area 21 × 24 cm2 provides a viable and low-cost route to scale up the manufacturing of low-cost, stable and high-efficiency PSCs.
Babak Taheri, Narges Yaghoobi Nia, Antonio Agresti, Sara Pescetelli, Claudio Ciceroni, Antonio Esaù Del Rio Castillo, Lucio Cinà, Sebastiano Bellani, Francesco Bonaccorso, Aldo Di Carlo
DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/aad983
25 September 2018
2D Materials
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2053-1583/aad983/meta
Sustainable Electronics Based on Crop Plant Extracts and Graphene: a “Bioadvantaged” Approach
ABSTRACT
In today's fast‐paced and well‐connected world, consumer electronics are evolving rapidly. As a result, the amount of discarded electronic devices is becoming a major health and environmental concern. The rapid expansion of flexible electronics has the potential to transform consumer electronic devices from rigid phones and tablets to robust wearable devices. This means increased use of plastics in consumer electronics and the potential to generate more persistent plastic waste for the environment. Hence, today, the need for flexible biodegradable electronics is at the forefront of minimizing the mounting pile of global electronic waste. A “bioadvantaged” approach to develop a biodegradable, flexible, and application‐adaptable electronic components based on crop components and graphene is reported. More specifically, by combining zein, a corn‐derived protein, and aleuritic acid, a major monomer of tomato cuticles and sheellac, along with graphene, biocomposite conductors having low electrical resistance (≈10 Ω sq−1) with exceptional mechanical and fatigue resilience are fabricated. Further, a number of high‐performance electronic applications, such as THz electromagnetic shielding, flexible GHz antenna construction, and flexible solar cell electrode, are demonstrated. Excellent performance results are measured from each application comparable to conventional nondegrading counterparts, thus paving the way for the concept of “plant‐e‐tronics” towards sustainability.
Susana Guzman‐Puyol, Luca Ceseracciu, Luca La Notte, Andrea Reale, Jun Ren, Yijie Zhang, Lei Liu, Mario Miscuglio, Patrizia Savi, Simonluca Piazza, Marti Duocastella, Giovanni Perotto, Athanassia Athanassiou, Ilker S. Bayer
DOI: 10.1002/adsu.201800069
05 August 2018
Advanced Sustainable Systems
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adsu.201800069
MoS2 Quantum Dot/Graphene Hybrids for Advanced Interface Engineering of a CH3 NH3 PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cell with an Efficiency of over 20%
ABSTRACT
Interface engineering of organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) plays a pivotal role in achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE). In fact, the perovskite photoactive layer needs to work synergistically with the other functional components of the cell, such as charge transporting/active buffer layers and electrodes. In this context, graphene and related two-dimensional materials (GRMs) are promising candidates to tune “on demand” the interface properties of PSCs. In this work, we fully exploit the potential of GRMs by controlling the optoelectronic properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hybrids both as hole transport layer (HTL) and active buffer layer (ABL) in mesoscopic methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite (MAPbI3)-based PSCs. We show that zero-dimensional MoS2 quantum dots (MoS2 QDs), derived by liquid phase exfoliated MoS2flakes, provide both hole-extraction and electron-blocking properties. In fact, on one hand, intrinsic n-type doping-induced intraband gap states effectively extract the holes through an electron injection mechanism. On the other hand, quantum confinement effects increase the optical band gap of MoS2 (from 1.4 eV for the flakes to >3.2 eV for QDs), raising the minimum energy of its conduction band (from −4.3 eV for the flakes to −2.2 eV for QDs) above the one of the conduction band of MAPbI3 (between −3.7 and −4 eV) and hindering electron collection. The van der Waals hybridization of MoS2 QDs with functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-RGO), obtained by chemical silanization-induced linkage between RGO and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane, is effective to homogenize the deposition of HTLs or ABLs onto the perovskite film, since the two-dimensional nature of RGO effectively plugs the pinholes of the MoS2 QD films. Our “graphene interface engineering” (GIE) strategy based on van der Waals MoS2 QD/graphene hybrids enables MAPbI3-based PSCs to achieve a PCE up to 20.12% (average PCE of 18.8%). The possibility to combine quantum and chemical effects into GIE, coupled with the recent success of graphene and GRMs as interfacial layer, represents a promising approach for the development of next-generation PSCs.
Leyla Najafi, Babak Taheri, Beatriz Martín-García, Sebastiano Bellani, Diego Di Girolamo, Antonio Agresti, Reinier Oropesa-Nuñez, Sara Pescetelli, Luigi Vesce, Emanuele Calabrò, Mirko Prato, Antonio E. Del Rio Castillo, Aldo Di Carlo, Francesco Bonaccorso
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b05514
ACS Publications
Publication Date (Web): September 21, 2018
NEW ARCHITECTURE OF POLYMERIC CELLS WITH DNA AS A CONSTITUENT LAYER
A new architecture of polymeric cells that foresees the presence of DNA as a constituent layer: it is the result of the study conducted jointly by the new ultrafast spectroscopy laboratory of the Institute "Struttura della Materia" of CNR (Cnr-Ism) and the researchers of the Department of Engineering Electronics of the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" and of CHOSE.
The results of the research are published in Advanced Functional Materials (No. 28 of 27 June 2018):
The complete article can be found at link:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.201707126
Altri articoli...
- LOW TEMPERATURE, SOLUTION-PROCESSED PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS AND MODULES WITH AN APERTURE AREA EFFICIENCY OF 11%
- AGING EFFECTS IN INTERFACE-ENGINEERED PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS WITH 2D NANOMATERIALS: A DEPTH PROFILE ANALYSIS
- ENHANCED CHARGE SEPARATION EFFICIENCY IN DNA TEMPLATED POLYMER SOLAR CELLS
- FACILE SYNTHESIS OF A SNO2@RGO NANOHYBRID AND OPTIMIZATION OF ITS METHANE-SENSING PARAMETERS
- HIGHLY EFFICIENT PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS FOR LIGHT HARVESTING UNDER INDOOR ILLUMINATION VIA SOLUTION PROCESSED SNO2/MGO COMPOSITE ELECTRON TRANSPORT LAYERS
Università degli Studi di Roma
"Tor Vergata"
