Forming Gradient Multilayer (GML) Nano Films for Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Applications
- PDF / 179,742 Bytes
- 5 Pages / 432 x 648 pts Page_size
- 96 Downloads / 183 Views
Forming Gradient Multilayer (GML) Nano Films for Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Applications Boris Gilman and Igor Altman Coolsol R&C, Mountain View CA
ABSTRACT For successful implementation of the nanomaterial-based PV and Energy storage devices there is a need for well-structured nano films consisting of a strictly controlled sequence of nanoparticle layers. Most promising nano-films include a “built-in” gradient of a nanoparticle size and/or material composition across the part or entire thickness of the film. Such Gradient Multilayer (GML) nano films will be able to significantly improve a PV efficiency of the 3rd generation Solar Cells and Energy storage devices. The development of GML-based devices is presently limited by lack of simple, inexpensive, scalable, and production-worthy deposition methods that are capable of forming GML nano-film on PV-suitable substrates such as flexible materials. The proposed concept describes novel principles of an advanced non-conventional deposition of the highly efficient GML nano films. The proposed GML deposition method is based on the phenomena of Flying Particles (FP). According to the FP-methods a pre-selected mix of nanoparticles (NP) of various size and/or material composition is deposited on a flexible (or other) substrate in a pre-defined order of NP size and/or composition thus forming GML nano film. Deposited GML film comprises a sequence of size-tuned and/or composition-tuned NP layers, which has a potential for significant increase of PV efficiency. The deposition process includes the NPs launch and flight through a resistant gas ambient. Due to the Stokes aerodynamic laws the FP times-to-target will be different for NP of a different size and/or density (material composition). Simulation is presented to confirm the separation of FP”s of a different size and/or density during their motion through the low-pressure gas. The calculations have been made for the initial stages of the FP process thus establishing the most efficient parameters of the process. Resultant GML nano films are expected to have superior qualities, particularly for building high efficiency / low cost PV panels. The FP-method allows for a fast development and easy implementation in PV manufacturing. INTRODUCTION From material point of view it is common to consider the following three groups of PV products (i.e. Solar Cells (SC) and Solar Module(SM)): 1) PV products based on well established bulk semiconductors such as Si or III-V group (GaAs or InP-based compositions); 2) Thin Film (TF) SC and SM including most popular a-SiH/a-SiC and CdTe-based structures; 3) Advanced nonstandard materials including organic films (polymers), nano crystals (quantum dots, wires etc.), super lattice structures and various combinations of those. The above three groups are commonly referred to as First, Second and Third generations of PV devices respectively.
53
Both bulk and TF groups of PV products have some fundamental performance and cost limitations that diminish their prospects of being used as an effici
Data Loading...
