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Starczewska A, Kępińska M. Photonic Crystal Structures for Photovoltaic Applications. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1196. [PMID: 38473667 DOI: 10.3390/ma17051196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Photonic crystals are artificial structures with a spatial periodicity of dielectric permittivity on the wavelength scale. This feature results in a spectral region over which no light can propagate within such a material, known as the photonic band gap (PBG). It leads to a unique interaction between light and matter. A photonic crystal can redirect, concentrate, or even trap incident light. Different materials (dielectrics, semiconductors, metals, polymers, etc.) and 1D, 2D, and 3D architectures (layers, inverse opal, woodpile, etc.) of photonic crystals enable great flexibility in designing the optical response of the material. This opens an extensive range of applications, including photovoltaics. Photonic crystals can be used as anti-reflective and light-trapping surfaces, back reflectors, spectrum splitters, absorption enhancers, radiation coolers, or electron transport layers. This paper presents an overview of the developments and trends in designing photonic structures for different photovoltaic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Starczewska
- Institute of Physics-Center for Science and Education, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
| | - Mirosława Kępińska
- Institute of Physics-Center for Science and Education, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
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Brito-Santos G, Hernández-Rodríguez C, Gil-Hernández B, Sanchiz J, Martín IR, González-Díaz B, Guerrero-Lemus R. Exploring Ln(III)-Ion-Based Luminescent Species as Down-Shifters for Photovoltaic Solar Cells. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:5068. [PMID: 37512344 PMCID: PMC10383640 DOI: 10.3390/ma16145068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we have compiled our research on lanthanide-based luminescent materials for use as down-shifter layers in photovoltaic (PV) mini-modules. The complexes we have prepared (C1-17), with formulas [Eu2(phen)2(bz)6] (C1), [Eu2(bphen)2(bz)6] (C2), [Eu(tta)3bphen] (C3), [Eu(bta)3pyz-phen] (C4), [Eu(tta)3pyz-phen] (C5), [Eu(bta)3me-phen] (C6), [Er(bta)3me-phen] (C7), [Yb(bta)3me-phen] (C8), [Gd(bta)3me-phen] (C9), [Yb(bta)3pyz-phen] (C10), [Er(tta)3pyz-phen] (C11), [Eu2(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C12), [Gd2(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C13), [EuTb(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C14), [EuGd(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C15), [Eu1.2Gd0.8(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C16), and [Eu1.6Gd0.4(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2] (C17), can be grouped into three families based on their composition: Complexes C1-6 were synthesized using Eu3+ ions and phenanthroline derivatives as the neutral ligands and fluorinated β-diketonates as the anionic ligands. Complexes C7-11 were prepared with ligands similar to those of complexes C1-6 but were synthesized with Er3+, Yb3+, or Gd3+ ions. Complexes C12-17 have the general formula [M1M2(bz)4(tta)2(phen)2], where M1 and M2 can be Eu3+, Gd3+, or Tb3+ ions, and the ligands were benzoate (bz-), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (tta-), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). Most of the complexes were characterized using X-ray techniques, and their photoluminescent properties were studied. We then assessed the impact of complexes in the C1-6 and C12-17 series on the EQE of PV mini-modules and examined the durability of one of the complexes (C6) in a climate chamber when embedded in PMMA and EVA films. This study emphasizes the methodology employed and the key findings, including enhanced mini-module efficiency. Additionally, we present promising results on the application of complex C6 in a bifacial solar cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Brito-Santos
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Cecilio Hernández-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Materiales y Nanotecnología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Beatriz Gil-Hernández
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Materiales y Nanotecnología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Joaquín Sanchiz
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Materiales y Nanotecnología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Inocencio R Martín
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Materiales y Nanotecnología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Benjamín González-Díaz
- Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad de La Laguna, Camino San Francisco de Paula S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ricardo Guerrero-Lemus
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Materiales y Nanotecnología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
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