Project description
Investigating new materials to increase tandem solar cell efficiency
In recent years, selenium (Se) has become an attractive alternative to silicon in photovoltaic technology because of its suitably high band gap, high efficiency and ability to be processed at low temperatures. The EU-funded SeNTASC project will develop selenium absorber photovoltaic (Se PV) top subcell stacking with a high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) bottom subcell towards long-term stable and high-efficiency tandem solar cells, using novel approaches in buffer layer band gap modulation and advanced hole-selective metal oxide layer modification to achieve an inverted bifacial Se PV. This approach will lead to an efficiency increase of approximately 10 % and establish Se as an excellent candidate for a top subcell in a tandem with high-quality CIGS solar cells, leading to a maximum theoretical efficiency of about 40 %.
Objective
Clean energy is crucial for a carbon neutral European continent, and wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and solar energy conversion will generate hundreds of billions economic activity in the coming years. Among these, photovoltaics (PV) plays a crucial part in electricity generation directly transformed from sunlight. Recently, the efficiency of the dominant PV technology, Si, has reached over 26%, which is near the 29.4% theoretical efficiency limit for single-junction solar cells. In order to overcome this limit, the tandem concept that minimizes thermalization losses of photo-excited carriers has been successfully proven with multi-junction cells, where different band gaps are stacked in series. Over the past decades, the main challenge has been the lack of an efficient, long-term stable, low cost, and process compatible top sub-cell. Recently, selenium (Se) became an attractive option because of its suitable high bandgap , feasible process at low temperature, and reported efficiency.
This proposal (SeNTASC) aims at developing selenium absorber photovoltaic (Se PV) top subcell stacking with high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) bottom subcell toward long-term stable and high-efficiency tandem solar cells by implementing novel approaches in buffer layer bandgap modulation, advanced hole-selective metal oxide layer modification, and finally achieving an inverted bifacial Se PV. The above-mentioned strategies will lead to ~10 % efficiency with open circuit voltage over 1 Volt with bandgap around 1.95 eV in an inverted superstrate configuration. Reaching these objectives, Se will be established as an excellent candidate for a top subcell in a tandem with high-quality CIGS solar cells. In this configuration, a maximum theoretical efficiency near 40% is expected.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power generation
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydroelectricity
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels energy conversion
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.4. - SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-WF-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4715-330 Braga
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.