Cathode Buffer Layer For Improving Photovoltaic Performance Of Planar P-I-N Perovskite Solar Cells,
2016
Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China;
Cathode Buffer Layer For Improving Photovoltaic Performance Of Planar P-I-N Perovskite Solar Cells, Xiao-Dong Liu, Yong-Fang Li
Journal of Electrochemistry
Organic/inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskite semiconductor materials have drawn great attention for the application in solar cells in recent years because of their combined superior photoelectrical properties of inorganic semiconductors (with high dielectric constant and high charge carriers mobility) and organic semiconductors (with good solution processability and high absorbance). The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the organometal halide perovskite solar cells (pero-SCs) based on CH3NH3PbI3 has been increased dramatically in a few years from 3.8% to a certified 22.1%, primarily owing to the development of new interfacial materials, careful optimization of morphology, and perovskite crystallization …
Special Issue: Photoelectrochemistry And New Types Of Solar Cells,
2016
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University;
Special Issue: Photoelectrochemistry And New Types Of Solar Cells, Chang-Jian Lin, Yong-Fang Li
Journal of Electrochemistry
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Prospects Of D-Π-A Structured Porphyrins And Their Photoelectrochemical Application,
2016
Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan , 430074,Hubei,China;
Prospects Of D-Π-A Structured Porphyrins And Their Photoelectrochemical Application, Shuang-Shuang Liu, Jian-Feng Lu, Ming-Kui Wang
Journal of Electrochemistry
Porphyrins and their metalloderivatives are a class of compounds exhibiting a wide variety of interesting and highly useful properties, such as chlorophyll. Porphyrins are particularly interesting in photoelectrochemical applications due to their structural similarity to chlorophylls in natural photosynthetic systems, as well as their strong and tunable absorption properties. Recently, various porphyrins have been extensively studied for their applications in solar cells, photocatalytic hydrogen production, optical information storage and others. This review will focus on the unique physical and chemical properties of D-π-A structured porphyrins, and their photovoltaic performances in dye-sensitized solar cells. A brief discussion in the future development …
Wearable Piezotronic Devices For Heart Rate Monitoring,
2016
Purdue University
Wearable Piezotronic Devices For Heart Rate Monitoring, Adam J. Miller, Wenzhuo Wu Dr.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Self-powered multifunctional wearable devices that are capable of human-device interfacing are highly desired. Piezotronic devices utilize piezoelectricity and semiconductor properties to enable devices to have seamless interaction between human and device. One important use for piezotronic devices is for pressure sensing. Pressure sensing devices have been employed in smart skins, biomonitoring, gesture recognition, and many more applications. This study aims to create a flexible piezotronic device, specifically for use in pressure sensing to monitor heart rate. ZnO nanowires are grown on a flexible polymer substrate so that they can be made into wearable devices. A p-n heterojunction is formed by …
Photonicstd-2d: Modeling Light Scattering In Periodic Multilayer Photonic Structures,
2016
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Photonicstd-2d: Modeling Light Scattering In Periodic Multilayer Photonic Structures, Alexey Bondarev, Shaimaa Azzam, Zhaxylyk Kudyshev, Alexander V. Kildishev
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Efficient modeling of electromagnetic processes in optical and plasmonic metamaterials is important for enabling new and exciting ways to manipulate light for advanced applications. In this work, we put together a tool for numerical simulation of propagation of normally incident light through a nanostructured multilayer composite material. The user builds a unit cell of a given material layer-by-layer starting from a substrate up to a superstrate, splitting each layer further into segments. The segments are defined by width and material -- dielectric, metal or active medium. Simulations are performed with the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. A database of …
Large Scale Monolithic Solar Panel Simulation - A Study On Partial Shading Degradation,
2016
Purdue University
Large Scale Monolithic Solar Panel Simulation - A Study On Partial Shading Degradation, Suhas V. Baddela, Xingshu Sun, Muhammad A. Alam
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium
Shadow-induced degradation is a major concern for both power output and long-term reliability in solar cells. Apart from the obvious fact that shading reduces the amount of solar irradiance available to solar panels, it may lead to formation of hot spots, where solar cells are forced to reverse breakdown with localized heating, and potentially, permanent damage. To get a better understanding of shadow-induced degradation, we develop an electro-thermal coupled simulator that can self-consistently solve the electrical and thermal distributions of solar panel under arbitrary shading conditions. The simulation framework consists of two part: a) compact models that can describe the …
Contact Radius And Insulator-Metal Transition In Films Comprised Of Touching Semiconductor Nanocrystals,
2016
Washington University in St. Louis
Contact Radius And Insulator-Metal Transition In Films Comprised Of Touching Semiconductor Nanocrystals, Deanna M. Lanigan
McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations
Nanocrystal assemblies are being explored for a number of optoelectronic applications such as transparent conductors, photovoltaic solar cells, and electrochromic windows. Majority carrier transport is important for these applications, yet it remains relatively poorly understood in films comprised of touching nanocrystals. Specifically, the underlying structural parameters expected to determine the transport mechanism have not been fully elucidated. In this report, we demonstrate experimentally that the contact radius, between touching heavily doped ZnO nanocrystals, controls the electron transport mechanism. Spherical nanocrystals are considered, which are connected by a circular area. The radius of this circular area is the contact radius. For …
Thermoelectric Half-Heuslers: Synthesis, Processing, And Performance,
2016
Boise State University
Thermoelectric Half-Heuslers: Synthesis, Processing, And Performance, Joseph Robert Croteau
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Thermoelectric half-Heusler compounds have potential to convert the heat wasted from industrial and transportation processes to useful electricity. Among the highest performing half-Heusler compounds are nano-structured bulk materials which have been arc-melted, pulverized into a nano-powder, and sintered by DC-hot press. High performing n- and p-type half-Heusler compounds with nominal composition of Hf0.25Zr0.75NiSn0.99Sb0.01 and Nb0.75Ti0.25FeSb, respectively, have been provided to us in both dense and powder form by our collaborators at the University of Houston. We consolidate these powders by SPS, refine these powders to improve both particle size …
Computational Studies Of Grain Boundary Behavior In Uranium Dioxide Nuclear Fuels,
2016
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
Computational Studies Of Grain Boundary Behavior In Uranium Dioxide Nuclear Fuels, Eric Nelson, Lan Li (Mentor), Simon C. Middleburgh (Mentor)
Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research
Nuclear power is responsible for the production of 380,000 Megawatts of energy worldwide, which results in over 11% of the world’s energy production [world-nuclear.org]. Pellet-cladding interactions (PCI) are a key nuclear fuel failure mechanism which presents formidable challenges to researchers due to extreme nuclear fission conditions. Although PCI interactions have been reduced due to fuel additives, understandings of PCI interactions remain elusive. We propose new approaches to increase understanding of nuclear fuel interactions; specifically, uranium dioxide and the effects of dopants. This study focuses on amorphous uranium dioxide and fission products, while benchmarking new methods with previous computational studies. Results …
Wide Bandgap Organo‐Lead Trihalide Perovskites For Solar Cells,
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Wide Bandgap Organo‐Lead Trihalide Perovskites For Solar Cells, Miao Hu
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Methylammonium lead trihalide perovskite (MAPbX3, where MA is methylammonium, and X is a halide)-based solar cells have been extensively investigated recently, with a demonstrated and certified solar power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 20%. To further boost the PCE beyond the Schockley–Queisser limit, tandem structured solar cells have been investigated based on integrating MAPbX3 and the lower bandgap solar cells. Although the best reported efficiency for this type of tandem cells is not close to the theoretically achievable value, mixed-halide perovskite MAPbBrxI3–x is still one of the most promising candidates as the wide-bandgap light absorber for the tandem application to match …
Microfacet Wavelength Scaling Of The Brdf,
2016
Air Force Institute of Technology
Microfacet Wavelength Scaling Of The Brdf, Samuel E. Freda
Theses and Dissertations
The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) describes realistic scattering of light off materials by relating incident irradiance to outbound radiance. One popular class of BRDF models assumes a surface is comprised of tiny microfacets. The drawback of microfacet BRDFs is that they often no not contain specific material parameters and neglect wavelength effects. Wave optics BRDF expressions, however, can describe wavelength effects at the expense of being more computationally cumbersome. Previous work of following a Beckmann-Kirchhoff derivation of BRDF, then relating wave optics BRDF coordinates to microfacet coordinates led to a complicated, but versatile, BRDF. In this work, the infinite …
Zno Thin Films Generated By Ex-Situ Thermal Oxidation Of Metallic Zn For Photovoltaic Applications,
2016
Macalester College
Zno Thin Films Generated By Ex-Situ Thermal Oxidation Of Metallic Zn For Photovoltaic Applications, Kovas Zygas
Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy
ZnO thin films that function as either transparent conducting oxides in solid-state photovoltaic cells or as nanocrystalline dye-absorbers in dye-sensitized solar cells have the potential to reduce the cost of producing electricity from solar energy. Although there exist many methods to produce ZnO thin films, the most economical and practical method may be oxidation of metallic Zn thin films. This research examined the utility of ex-situ thermal oxidation of DC magnetron sputtered Zn thin films in generating useful ZnO thin films for these photovoltaic applications. We annealed Zn thin films in air at 570° C in order to produce ZnO …
Manipulation Of Surface Plasmon Resonance In Metal And Alloy Thin Films Using Dielectric Media,
2016
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Manipulation Of Surface Plasmon Resonance In Metal And Alloy Thin Films Using Dielectric Media, Benjamin Dubray Hall
Graduate Theses - Physics and Optical Engineering
Surface plasmon polaritons are coherent electron oscillations that propagate along an interface between a Drude metal and a dielectric medium. The excitation of polaritons is highly dependent on the dielectric properties of the metal, the thickness of the metal, and the optical properties of the dielectric material. First, plasmonic activity is assessed for several thicknesses of silver and nickel chromium under He-Ne incidence. Relationships between film thickness and metal dielectric function are explored in both cases. To manipulate the plasmonic activity at the silver surfaces, two methods are explored. Silver oxide was grown on the surface of the silver films, …
Investigation Of Optical Properties Of Zinc Oxide Photodetector,
2016
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Investigation Of Optical Properties Of Zinc Oxide Photodetector, Tyler Chism
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
UV photodetection devices have many important applications for uses in biological detection, gas sensing, weaponry detection, fire detection, chemical analysis, and many others. Today’s photodetectors often utilize semiconductors such as GaAs to achieve high responsivity and sensitivity. Zinc oxide, unlike many other semiconductors, is cheap, abundant, non-toxic, and easy to grow different morphologies at the micro and nano scale. With the proliferation of these devices also comes the impending need to further study optics and photonics in relation to phononics and plasmonics, and the general principles underlying the interaction of photons with solid state matter and, specifically, semiconductors. For this …
Synthesis Of Acceptors For Use In Donor-Acceptor Copolymers And Characterization Of These Polymers,
2016
University of Southern Mississippi
Synthesis Of Acceptors For Use In Donor-Acceptor Copolymers And Characterization Of These Polymers, William D. Walker
Honors Theses
In this thesis, a selenium-derivatized acceptor was synthesized to examine the heavy atom effects of selenium on the position of the frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO/LUMO band gap) as opposed to sulfur in a donor-acceptor copolymer for use in light harvesting and detection applications. Over the course of this research, standard operating protocols for ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis-NIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies, as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV) characterization techniques were established. Once synthesized, the polymers were characterized through use of the established characterization protocols. The selenium-derivatized polymer exhibited a bathochromic shift compared to the sulfur analogue, with a solid-state absorption …
Direct Band Gap Gallium Antimonide Phosphide (Gasbxp1-X) For Solar Fuels.,
2016
University of Louisville
Direct Band Gap Gallium Antimonide Phosphide (Gasbxp1-X) For Solar Fuels., Harry Benjamin Russell
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Photoelectrochemical water splitting has been identified as a promising route for achieving sustainable energy future. However, semiconductor materials with the appropriate optical, electrical and electrochemical properties have yet to be discovered. In search of an appropriate semiconductor to fill this gap, GaSbP, a semiconductor never tested for PEC performance is proposed here and investigated. Density functional theory (DFT+U) techniques were utilized to predict band gap and band edge energetics for GaSbP alloys with low amount of antimony. The overall objective of this dissertation is to understand the suitability of GaSbxP1-x alloys for photoelectrochemical water splitting application. Specifically, …
Synthesis, Characterization, And Electronic Properties Of Novel 2d Materials : Transition Metal Dichalcogenides And Phosphorene.,
2016
University of Louisville
Synthesis, Characterization, And Electronic Properties Of Novel 2d Materials : Transition Metal Dichalcogenides And Phosphorene., George Anderson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Scaling electronic devices has become paramount. The current work builds upon scaling efforts by developing novel synthesis methods and next generation sensing devices based on 2D materials. A new combination method utilizing thermal evaporation and chemical vapor deposition was developed and analyzed to show the possibilities of Transition Metal Dichalcogenide monolayers and heterostructures. The materials produced from the above process showed high degrees of compositional control in both spatial dimensions and chemical structure. Characterization shows controlled fabrication of heterostructures, which may pave the way for future band gap engineering possibilities. In addition, Phosphorene based field effect transistors, photodetectors, and gas …
Palladium Nanoparticles On Zno-Passivated Carbon For Enhanced Performance In Li-O2 Batteries,
2016
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Palladium Nanoparticles On Zno-Passivated Carbon For Enhanced Performance In Li-O2 Batteries, Mar Piernavieja-Hermida
Research Horizons Day Posters
No abstract provided.
Growth Of Ws2 Thin Photovoltaic Films,
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Growth Of Ws2 Thin Photovoltaic Films, Matthew J. Hilfiker, Aaron Ediger, Natale Lanno
UCARE: Research Products
Through research for a material that is low cost, earth abundant, and highly efficient, Tungsten Sulfide (WS2) has been identified as a promising solution. From literature, it has been shown that WS2 possesses a band gap of 1.9 eV, which is ideal for a top layer heterostructure cell. While this is a favorable value, other properties needed to understand its value as a photovoltaic material are unknown. Through research, WS2 films will be grown through a sputtering deposition process and electrical characterization measurements will be performed to study these missing properties.
Identification Of The Zinc-Oxygen Divacancy In Zno Crystals,
2016
Air Force Institute of Technology
Identification Of The Zinc-Oxygen Divacancy In Zno Crystals, Maurio S. Holston, Eric M. Golden, Brant E. Kananen, John W. Mcclory, Nancy C. Giles, Larry E. Halliburton
Faculty Publications
An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum in neutron-irradiated ZnO crystals is assigned to the zinc-oxygen divacancy. These divacancies are observed in the bulk of both hydrothermally grown and seeded-chemical-vapor-transport-grown crystals after irradiations with fast neutrons. Neutral nonparamagnetic complexes consisting of adjacent zinc and oxygen vacancies are formed during the irradiation. Subsequent illumination below ∼150 K with 442 nm laser light converts these (V2−Zn − V2+O)0 defects to their EPR-active state (V−Zn − V2+O)+ as electrons are transferred to donors. The resulting photoinduced S = 1/2 spectrum of the …
