Description du projet
Doper le rendement des futures cellules solaires avec des matériaux de faible dimensionnalité
Grâce à leur capacité unique à présenter d’excellentes propriétés électriques en couches très fines lorsque ces dernières sont correctement orientées, les semi-conducteurs unidimensionnels (1D) sont des matériaux absorbants prometteurs pour les cellules solaires. Le projet SENSATE, financé par l’UE, permettra de développer une vaste gamme de semi-conducteurs 1D à large bande passante, tels que les chalcogénures, les halogénures et les composés mixtes de chalcogénures et d’halogénures. Il devrait être possible d’ajuster les propriétés optiques de ces matériaux, et de faire en sorte que leur transparence optique dépasse les 50 %. Leur utilisation permettra également d’améliorer le rendement global de conversion des cellules solaires, en atteignant des rendements de plus de 20 %. En cas de succès, SENSATE aura un impact sans précédent sur notre perception de l’énergie produite par les cellules solaires, en promouvant notamment des applications encore considérées comme marginales, comme les dispositifs (semi-)transparents et colorés pour les systèmes photovoltaïques et électroniques intégrés aux bâtiments.
Objectif
SENSATE proposes ground breaking ideas and concepts combining very innovative low dimensional thin film materials and highly asymmetric selective contacts with dipoles, for the development of non-intrusive and universal solar energy harvester. Materials, processes and devices design innovations will be combined in a straightforward manner, in order to develop next generation of cost-efficient and highly-stable/optically-tuneable photovoltaic (PV) devices.
For achieving this, SENSATE proposes exploiting for the first time the full optical and electrical potential of one-dimensional (1D) thin film wide bandgap materials, including chalcogenide, halide and mixed chalcogenide/halide compounds. The use of 1D semiconductors as PV absorbers will represent a breakthrough thanks to their unique capability to exhibit excellent electrical properties in very thin layers when correctly oriented, keeping at the same time tuneable optical properties to ensure good transparency (AT > 50%), and very competitive efficiencies (>20%). A wide range of wide bandgap 1D semiconductors will be developed (Eg between 1.50-2.70 eV), including strategies for their 1D texturing using annealing at high pressure and under magnetic fields.
This will be combined with disruptive selective asymmetric contacts based on electron and hole transport metal oxide layers, enhanced with superficial organic and inorganic dipoles, to develop a ubiquitous solar harvester with customized transparency/efficiency. If succeed, SENSATE will have an unprecedented impact in our perception of PV energy, opening the possibility to applications that nowadays are considered marginal. Transparent, semi-transparent and coloured devices for advanced BIPV applications and electronics, as well as top cells for very high efficiency and low cost tandem/multi-junction devices will benefit from this technology, setting the basis required for a massive PV implementation and contributing to change our energy consumption model.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energy
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringarchitecture engineeringsustainable architecturesustainable building
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitution d’accueil
08034 Barcelona
Espagne