Search results for "Copper indium gallium selenide"
showing 10 items of 16 documents
A procedure to evaluate the seven parameters of the two-diode model for photovoltaic modules
2019
Abstract The paper presents an analytical procedure to calculate the seven parameters of the two-diode model of photovoltaic (PV) panels for any value of the solar irradiance and cell temperature. Six parameters (the photocurrent, the diode reverse saturation currents, the quality factor of the first diode and the series and shunt resistances), are evaluated by solving the equations related to the properties of the main points of the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The further information, necessary to calculate the entire set of seven truly independent parameters, is based on two conditions that have to be simultaneously satisfied: 1) the exclusion of negative values of the model pa…
An accurate one-diode model suited to represent the current-voltage characteristics of crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules
2020
Abstract In this paper a new one-diode model, conceived in order to be used to represent the current-voltage curves of both crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules, is presented. The model parameters are calculated from the information contained in the datasheets issued by manufactures by means of simple iterative procedures that do not require the assumption of simplifying hypotheses. Some innovative relations describing the dependence of the parameters from the solar irradiance and cell temperature are adopted in order to permit the model to reliably simulate the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic devices operating in real conditions. The ability of the model to calculate the cur…
A theoretical investigation on the Cd doping of Cu-depleted CuInSe<inf>2</inf> materials
2011
Because of their outstanding characteristics and affordable price, polycrystalline thin film solar cells based on CuIn 1−x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) absorber layer have emerged to be one of the most promising materials for photovoltaic applications [1–2]. To further enhance the efficiency of these solar cells much effort is spent on the in-depth investigation of the production methods. However, the effect of structural defects and dopants upon the macroscopic properties and morphology of epitaxially grown CIGS films is not yet fully understood [3]. More importantly, it is well established that the best cells can be prepared by growing the CIGS absorber layer under Cu-poor conditions [4]. Thus, it is…
CIGS PV Module Characteristic Curves Under Chemical Composition and Thickness Variations
2014
This paper analyzes how the electrical characteristics of a CIGS photovoltaic module are affected by the chemical composition and by the thickness variations of the CIGS absorber. The electrical characteristics here considered are the short circuit current, the open circuit voltage, the efficiency and the power peak. The chemical composition is varied by tuning the ratio between gallium and indium. This analysis has been performed by means of the wxAMPS software, developed by the University of Illinois. The above variations have been taken into account on a PV module made of 72 cells. This analysis has been carried out employing a PV module mathematical model developed and implemented by th…
Fabrication and Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Ordered CIGS Nanowire Arrays for Application in Solar Cells
2010
In this work, we report some preliminary results concerning the fabrication of quaternary copper, indium, gallium, and selenium CIGS nanowires that were grown inside the channels of an anodic alumina membrane by one-step potentiostatic deposition at different applied potentials and room temperature. A tunable nanowire composition was achieved through a manipulation of the applied potential and electrolyte composition. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that nanowires, whose chemical composition was determined by energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis, were amorphous. A composition of Cu0.203In0.153Ga0.131Se0.513, very close to the stoichiometric value, was obtained. These nanostructures wer…
Graded Carrier Concentration Absorber Profile for High Efficiency CIGS Solar Cells
2015
We demonstrate an innovative CIGS-based solar cells model with a graded doping concentration absorber profile, capable of achieving high efficiency values. In detail, we start with an in-depth discussion concerning the parametrical study of conventional CIGS solar cells structures. We have used the wxAMPS software in order to numerically simulate cell electrical behaviour. By means of simulations, we have studied the variation of relevant physical and chemical parameters-characteristic of such devices-with changing energy gap and doping density of the absorber layer. Our results show that, in uniform CIGS cell, the efficiency, the open circuit voltage, and short circuit current heavily depe…
Optical and photovoltaic properties of indium selenide thin films prepared by van der Waals epitaxy
2001
Indium selenide thin films have been grown on p-type gallium selenide single crystal substrates by van der Waals epitaxy. The use of two crucibles in the growth process has resulted in indium selenide films with physical properties closer to these of bulk indium selenide than those prepared by other techniques. The optical properties of the films have been studied by electroabsorption measurements. The band gap and its temperature dependence are very close to those of indium selenide single crystals. The width of the fundamental transition, even if larger than that of the pure single crystal material, decreases monotonously with temperature. Exciton peaks are not observed even at low temper…
Parametrical study of multilayer structures for CIGS solar cells
2014
In this paper, a numerical analysis of relevant electrical parameters of multilayer structures for CIGS-based solar cells was carried out, employing the simulation software wxAMPS. In particular, we have focused on thin film cells having a ZnO:Al/ZnO/CdS/CIGS structure with a Molybdenum back contact. The aim of this work is to establish good theoretical reference values for an ongoing experimental activity, where our technology of choice is the single-step electrodeposition. In detail, we have analyzed how the main electrical properties change with the bang gap and the thickness of the absorber layer, for such a type of solar cell structure. Our results show that both efficiency and fill fa…
An electrochemical route towards the fabrication of nanostructured semiconductor solar cells
2010
This work presents our preliminary results regarding an electrochemical process which allows the growth of nanostructured materials by means of nanopore templates. Also we analyze possible applications of this process to fabricate nanostructured semiconductors, such as CIGS, suitable for photovoltaic devices, and we consider the implications from the perspective of characterization techniques and device modelling when using such a technology.
Spatial inhomogeneities and defect structures in CIGS and CIS materials: An ab-initio based Monte Carlo study
2011
The chalcopyrite semiconductors CuIn 1−x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) and CuInSe 2 (CIS) are excellent materials for high efficiency and low cost thin-film solar cells. This is due to the effective absorption of the solar spectrum and the inherent resilience to defects and composition fluctuations. Although the CIGS and CIS material in solar cells is highly inhomogeneous and exhibits a lot of different defects, the cell efficiencies are exceptionally high. If single crystalline absorbers are used, efficiencies are lower. Therefore, studying spatial inhomogeneities and defect structures is of great importance for understanding what supports and what diminishes the efficiency and robustness of the cells.…