Pioneering Advances in Photovoltaic Technology
The emergence of robust perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, produced using scalable techniques, marks a significant milestone for the photovoltaic sector.
Collaborative Efforts for Sustainability
Over the past five years, six institutes under the Fraunhofer umbrella have united their expertise in the major initiative “MaNiTU,” focusing on sustainable methods to commercialize these advanced tandem solar cells. Their efforts resulted in remarkable efficiencies with processes relevant to industry. However, it was found that achieving such efficiencies relied heavily on lead-containing perovskites; consequently, researchers devised innovative recycling strategies to bolster sustainability.
In their investigations within the “MaNiTU” framework, scientists synthesized new materials with perovskite structures and conducted comparative analyses against existing compounds at the cell level. Findings revealed that optimal efficiency is predominantly associated with lead-based perovskites.
Among their accomplishments were high-performing demonstrators—a notable example being a larger-than-100 square centimeter silicon-perovskite tandem cell featuring screen-printed metallization and compact module designs for single or interconnected arrangements.
LCA Findings Suggest Sustainable Path Forward
A series of life cycle assessments highlighted that through proper production and recycling practices alongside degradation rates akin to conventional silicon technologies, creating an environmentally sustainable product is achievable.
“This collaborative endeavor has enabled Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to re-establish its leadership position globally within photovoltaics,” remarked members of the advisory council during November 2024’s closing event of the project.
Optimizing Perovskite Production Techniques
A core component of this research was developing industrially applicable manufacturing methods for large-scale application of perovskite materials. Utilizing a hybrid method combining vapor deposition with wet-chemical techniques allowed researchers to fabricate superior-quality thin films on textured silicon. This innovation led to attaining an impressive 31.6% efficiency from fully textured perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells spanning one square centimeter.
“To firmly establish this emerging technology across Europe, strong ties with industry will be essential,” stated Prof. Andreas Bett from Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and coordinator of “MaNiTU.”
The Search for Lead-Free Alternatives Continues
The research team also delved into developing non-toxic alternatives by examining various compositions beyond traditional lead-based options while gaining crucial insights into material stability and characteristics through a combination of theoretical simulations and hands-on synthesis efforts.
“Utilizing scalable spray drying methodologies allowed us effective mass screening for diverse compounds,” explained Dr. Benedikt Schug from the Fraunhofer Institute focused on Particle Technology—underscoring its potential applications in large-scale production environments.” Despite thorough investigation into several promising lead-free candidates via theory and experimentation, none demonstrated sufficient performance capabilities relative to their lead counterparts as intrinsic qualities fell short?
Circular Economy Principles Applied
The study incorporated comprehensive lifecycle evaluations assessing environmental impacts across production stages through end-of-life management strategies focused on recycling capabilities—particularly geared toward developing closed-loop systems specifically tailored for perovskite components.
Prof.Dr.Peter Dold’s Insights:
“The implementation of sophisticated recycling protocols can facilitate circular economies around photovoltaic systems employing lead-peroskites while ensuring lasting energy efficacy.”
Advancing Industry-Oriented Components
A significant effort went towards designing system components conducive towards creating effective contact materials suitable both electrically & structurally tailored for G12 industrial wafer formats amidst temperature constraints inherent in processing pervoksitte substrates; released innovations involve newly established hybrid process chains coupling atomic layer deposition (ALD), evaporation methods culminating successfully via enhanced sputtering applications aimed solidifying functional integration throughout manufactured products .
Advancing the Future of Solar Energy: A Focus on Tandem Solar Cells
Transitioning Innovations from Research to Real-World Application
Dr. Volker Sittinger, who leads the Diamond-Based Systems and CleanTech division at Fraunhofer IST, stated, “Our primary goal is now to facilitate the transfer of development.” He highlighted that collaborative efforts with equipment manufacturers and end users aim to move cutting-edge technologies from laboratory settings into practical applications.
Assessing the Performance and Reliability of Tandem Solar Cells
The project also placed significant emphasis on tandem solar cells’ evaluation. Researchers have devised innovative methodologies for performing non-invasive analyses on both silicon and perovskite sub-cells.
By utilizing the characterization data alongside an opto-electrical simulation framework, a thorough analysis of efficiency losses in tandem solar cells was conducted. The findings indicated a practical efficiency ceiling of 39.5% for these advanced cells. In-depth investigations into their microstructure further enhanced this understanding.
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS), low-energy focused ion beam (FIB) techniques were assessed to prepare industrial-grade tandem solar cells for high-resolution examination via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, a custom sample holder was designed, enabling direct layering of absorber materials and contact elements onto TEM substrates by project collaborators.
In conjunction with these efforts, methods were pioneered to explore properties such as thickness measurement, coverage uniformity, and chemical interactions within self-organizing molecular monolayers.
Innovative Modeling Techniques for Absorber Materials
During this initiative, another team constructed computational models that effectively describe both structural attributes and photovoltaic characteristics of key absorber substances as well as their interactions with optically transparent and electrically conductive materials.
Scientists at Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) established a robust computational simulation workflow applicable not only in photovoltaics but also adaptable to tackle material challenges across various industrial sectors—most notably in hydrogen technology—essential for generating, converting, storing, distributing, and harnessing sustainable energy sources efficiently.
References
Information provided by:
Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC
Citation:
“High Efficiency Meets Sustainability: Next-Generation Tandem Solar Cells” (2024). Retrieved December 12th from Techxplore.
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