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Nanomaterials
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Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells
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Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Solar Energy and Solar Cells".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 5281

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhan'ao Tan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Interests: materials and devices for novel thin-film solar cells (polymer solar cells, perovskite solar cells); materials and devices for novel light-emitting diodes (quantum dot light-emitting diodes, perovskite light-emitting diodes, carbon dot light-emitting diodes); materials and devices for energy storage (organic redox flow battery)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Runnan Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Interests: material design and device engineering for novel thin-film solar cells (polymer solar cells, perovskite solar cells)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Nanomaterials are materials that are typically in the low-nanometer size range and have characteristic mesoscopic properties, making them one of the most attractive objects, both in fundamental research and functional applications. Due to their diverse applications, solar cells based on nanomaterials and nanotechnologies can be used with an interdisciplinary approach in physics, chemistry, and material science, attracting a growing number of researchers that are pushing this field forward. We are pleased to invite you to submit your original papers related to advanced nanomaterials and nanotechnology for solar cells. 

This themed issue aims to cover the most recent progress in the synthesis, preparation, characterization, and mechanistic studies of nanomaterials to highlight their application in organic, inorganic, or hybrid solar cells. Our aim is to highlight the remarkable contributions made by the leading scientists in this important research area and the broad impact of nanomaterials and nanotechnology for solar cells.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: fundamental physicochemical investigations; material design; technological advances; single-junction solar cells (perovskite solar cells, organic solar cells, , dye-sensitized solar cells, quantum dot solar cells, CIGS solar cells, CdTe solar cells, and silicon solar cells); and tandem multi-junction solar cells. These aspects highlighting the use of nanotechnology in improving the performance of solar cells will be discussed in this themed Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Zhan'ao Tan
Dr. Runnan Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • nanotechnology
  • nanostructured solar cells
  • photovoltaics
  • nanostructured morphology
  • light harvesting
  • light management
  • interface engineering

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 16525 KiB  
Article
Hierarchical Structuring of Black Silicon Wafers by Ion-Flow-Stimulated Roughening Transition: Fundamentals and Applications for Photovoltaics
by Vyacheslav N. Gorshkov, Mykola O. Stretovych, Valerii F. Semeniuk, Mikhail P. Kruglenko, Nadiia I. Semeniuk, Victor I. Styopkin, Alexander M. Gabovich and Gernot K. Boiger
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192715 - 06 Oct 2023
Viewed by 946
Abstract
Ion-flow-stimulated roughening transition is a phenomenon that may prove useful in the hierarchical structuring of nanostructures. In this work, we have investigated theoretically and experimentally the surface texturing of single-crystal and multi-crystalline silicon wafers irradiated using ion-beam flows. In contrast to previous studies, [...] Read more.
Ion-flow-stimulated roughening transition is a phenomenon that may prove useful in the hierarchical structuring of nanostructures. In this work, we have investigated theoretically and experimentally the surface texturing of single-crystal and multi-crystalline silicon wafers irradiated using ion-beam flows. In contrast to previous studies, ions had relatively low energies, whereas flow densities were high enough to induce a quasi-liquid state in the upper silicon layers. The resulting surface modifications reduced the wafer light reflectance to values characteristic of black silicon, widely used in solar energetics. Features of nanostructures on different faces of silicon single crystals were studied numerically based on the mesoscopic Monte Carlo model. We established that the formation of nano-pyramids, ridges, and twisting dune-like structures is due to the stimulated roughening transition effect. The aforementioned variety of modified surface morphologies arises due to the fact that the effects of stimulated surface diffusion of atoms and re-deposition of free atoms on the wafer surface from the near-surface region are manifested to different degrees on different Si faces. It is these two factors that determine the selection of the allowable “trajectories” (evolution paths) of the thermodynamic system along which its Helmholtz free energy, F, decreases, concomitant with an increase in the surface area of the wafer and the corresponding changes in its internal energy, U (dU>0), and entropy, S (dS>0), so that dF=dU – TdS<0, where T is the absolute temperature. The basic theoretical concepts developed were confirmed in experimental studies, the results of which showed that our method could produce, abundantly, black silicon wafers in an environmentally friendly manner compared to traditional chemical etching. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells)
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14 pages, 3592 KiB  
Article
Optoelectrical Properties of Hexamine Doped-Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite under Different Grain-Shape Crystallinity
by Marjoni Imamora Ali Umar, Annisa Zahra Ahdaliza, Salah M. El-Bahy, Nur Aliza, Siti Naqiyah Sadikin, Jaenudin Ridwan, Abang Annuar Ehsan, Mohammed A. Amin, Zeinhom M. El-Bahy and Akrajas Ali Umar
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071281 - 05 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1220
Abstract
The crystallinity properties of perovskite influence their optoelectrical performance in solar cell applications. We optimized the grain shape and crystallinity of perovskite film by annealing treatment from 130 to 170 °C under high humidity (relative humidity of 70%). We found that the grain [...] Read more.
The crystallinity properties of perovskite influence their optoelectrical performance in solar cell applications. We optimized the grain shape and crystallinity of perovskite film by annealing treatment from 130 to 170 °C under high humidity (relative humidity of 70%). We found that the grain size, grain interface, and grain morphology of the perovskite are optimized when the sample was annealed at 150 °C for 1 h in the air. At this condition, the perovskite film is composed of 250 nm crystalline shape grain and compact inter-grain structure with an invincible grain interface. Perovskite solar cells device analysis indicated that the device fabricated using the samples annealed at 150 °C produced the highest power conversion efficiency, namely 17.77%. The open circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), and fill factor (FF) of the device are as high as 1.05 V, 22.27 mA/cm2, and 0.76, respectively. Optoelectrical dynamic analysis using transient photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies reveals that (i) carrier lifetime in the champion device can be up to 25 ns, which is almost double the carrier lifetime of the sample annealed at 130 °C. (ii) The interfacial charge transfer resistance is low in the champion device, i.e., ~20 Ω, which has a crystalline grain morphology, enabling active photocurrent extraction. Perovskite’s behavior under annealing treatment in high humidity conditions can be a guide for the industrialization of perovskite solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells)
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11 pages, 1972 KiB  
Article
Highly Efficient 2D/3D Mixed-Dimensional Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 Perovskite Solar Cells Prepared by Methanol/Isopropanol Treatment
by Bicui Li, Shujie Yang, Huifang Han, Huijing Liu, Hang Zhao, Zhenzhen Li, Jia Xu and Jianxi Yao
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071239 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1658
Abstract
All-inorganic perovskite solar cells are attractive photovoltaic devices because of their excellent optoelectronic performance and thermal stability. Unfortunately, the currently used efficient inorganic perovskite materials can spontaneously transform into undesirable phases without light-absorption properties. Studies have been carried out to stabilize all-inorganic perovskite [...] Read more.
All-inorganic perovskite solar cells are attractive photovoltaic devices because of their excellent optoelectronic performance and thermal stability. Unfortunately, the currently used efficient inorganic perovskite materials can spontaneously transform into undesirable phases without light-absorption properties. Studies have been carried out to stabilize all-inorganic perovskite by mixing low-dimensional perovskite. Compared with organic two-dimensional (2D) perovskite, inorganic 2D Cs2PbI2Cl2 shows superior thermal stability. Our group has successfully fabricated 2D/3D mixed-dimensional Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 films with increasing phase stability. The high boiling point of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) makes it a preferred solvent in the preparation of Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 inorganic perovskite. When the perovskite films are prepared by the one-step solution method, it is difficult to evaporate the residual solvent molecules from the prefabricated films, resulting in films with rough surface morphology and high defect density. This study used the rapid precipitation method to control the formation of perovskite by treating it with methanol/isopropanol (MT/IPA) mixed solvent to produce densely packed, smooth, and high-crystallized perovskite films. The bulk defects and the carrier transport barrier of the interface were effectively reduced, which decreased the recombination of the carriers in the device. As a result, this effectively improved photoelectric performance. Through treatment with MT/IPA, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells prepared in the N2 atmosphere increased from 13.44% to 14.10%, and the PCE of the device prepared in the air increased from 3.52% to 8.91%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells)
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11 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
Optimization of the Selenization Temperature on the Mn-Substituted Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Thin Films and Its Impact on the Performance of Solar Cells
by Zhanwu Wang, Yingrui Sui, Meiling Ma and Tianyue Wang
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(22), 3994; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12223994 - 12 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) films are considered to be promising materials in the advancement of thin-film solar cells. In such films, the amounts of S and Se control the bandgap. Therefore, it is crucial to control the concentration of S/Se to improve [...] Read more.
Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) films are considered to be promising materials in the advancement of thin-film solar cells. In such films, the amounts of S and Se control the bandgap. Therefore, it is crucial to control the concentration of S/Se to improve efficiency. In this study, Cu2MnxZn1−xSnS4 (CMZTS) films were fabricated using the sol-gel method and treated in a Se environment. The films were post-annealed in a Se atmosphere at various temperature ranges from 300 °C to 550 °C at intervals of 200 °C for 15 min to obtain Cu2MnxZn1−xSn(S,Se)4 (CMZTSSe). The elemental properties, surface morphology, and electro-optical properties of the CMZTSSe films were investigated in detail. The bandgap of the CMZTSSe films was adjustable in the scope of 1.11–1.22 eV. The structural propeties and phase purity of the CMZTSSe films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis. High-quality CMZTSSe films with large grains could be acquired by suitably changing the selenization temperature. Under the optimized selenization conditions, the efficiency of the fabricated CMZTSSe device reached 3.08%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology for Solar Cells)
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