Interdigitated Back‐contacted Structure: A Different Approach Towards High‐efficiency Ultrathin Copper Indium Gallium (di) Selenide Solar Cells.
An interdigitated back-contacted (IBC) configuration is proposed for submicron cop-per indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS). In a modelling platform, the structure wasopto-electrically optimized for maximum efficiency. The results are compared with areference front/back-contacted (FBC) solar cell with similar absorber thickness andexhibiting 11.9% efficiency. The electrical passivation at the front side is accom-plished by an Al2O3layer, which […]
The Continued Adoption of Housing Systems in the Netherlands: A Multiple Casestudy
Extensive governmental and industry efforts have been devoted to developing innovative housebuilding systems. However, it appears a challenge for housebuilding firms to move beyond their demonstration status and get their housing system adopted at a large scale and over a longer period. This is problematic since worsening developments concerning the environmental impact, poor production efficiency […]
Optical Study of Back-contacted CIGS Solar Cells
A novel back-contacted solar cell based on a submicron copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) absorber is proposed and optically investigated. First, charge carrier collection feasibility is studied by band diagram analysis. Then, two back-contacted configurations are suggested and optimized for maximum current production. The results are compared with a reference front/back-contacted CIGS solar cell with […]
Decided or Divided? An Empirical Analysis of the Decision-making Process of Dutch Homeowners for Energy Renovation Measures.
The pace at which energy renovations are made to the existing housing stock must increase if the Netherlands is to reach the energy goals outlined in the nation’s climate mitigation policy. In this paper, this challenge is addressed by introducing a novel integrative model for a private homeowner’s decision-making process concerning energy renovation measures. The […]
Quenching Mo Optical Losses in CIGS Solar Cells by a Point Contacted Dual-layer Dielectric Spacer: a 3-D Optical Study
A 3-D optical modelling was calibrated to calculate the light absorption and the total reflection of fabricated CIGS solar cells. Absorption losses at molybdenum (Mo) / CIGS interface were explained in terms of plasmonic waves. To quench these losses, we assumed the insertion of a lossless dielectric spacer between Mo and CIGS, whose optical properties […]
Advanced Light Management Techniques for Two-terminal Hybrid Tandem Solar Cells
Multi-junction solar cells are considered for various applications, as they tackle various loss mechanisms for single junction solar cells. These losses include thermalization and non-absorption below the band gap. In this work, a tandem configuration comprising copper-indium-gallium-di-selenide (CIGS) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) absorber layers is studied. Two main challenges are addressed in this work. […]
Are Energy Decisions About Energy?
Research shows that buildings should use 80% less energy in 2050 to counter climate change and to reduce dependence on fossil fuels [1, 2]. To achieve this in the Netherlands, 75% of the Dutch houses should be renovated [3] with a pace of 300,000 houses each year [2]. This can be achieved by one-off energy […]