1
|
Shore A, Roller J, Bergeson J, Hamadani BH. Indoor light energy harvesting for battery-powered sensors using small photovoltaic modules. Energy Sci Eng 2021; 9:10.1002/ese3.964. [PMID: 37533957 PMCID: PMC10395376 DOI: 10.1002/ese3.964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
As interest in Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices like wireless sensors increases, research efforts have focused on finding ways for these sensors to self-harvest energy from the environment in which they are installed. Photovoltaic (PV) cells or mini-modules are an intuitive choice for harvesting indoor ambient light, even under low light conditions, and using it for battery charging and powering of these devices. Characterizations of battery charging, for small rechargeable batteries from low charge to full charge, have been investigated using PV mini-modules of equal area. We present battery charging results using three different PV technologies, monocrystalline silicon (c-Si), gallium-indium-phosphide (GaInP) and gallium-arsenide (GaAs) under a warm color temperature (3000 K) LED lighting at an illuminance of 1000 lx. Battery charging times are shortest for the more efficient GAInP and GaAs mini-modules whose spectral response are a better match to the LED test source, which contains mostly visible photons, and longest for the less efficient Si cells. As a demonstration, a wireless temperature sensor mote was attached to the charging circuit and operated to determine its power consumption in relation to the available charging power. The mote's maximum power draw was less than the charging power from the least efficient c-Si mini-module. Our findings affirm the feasibility of utilizing PV under typical indoor lighting conditions to power IoT devices.
Collapse
|
2
|
Je HI, Shin EY, Lee KJ, Ahn H, Park S, Im SH, Kim YH, Son HJ, Kwon SK. Understanding the Performance of Organic Photovoltaics under Indoor and Outdoor Conditions: Effects of Chlorination of Donor Polymers. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:23181-23189. [PMID: 32323523 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c02712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of the chemical structures of donor polymers on the photovoltaic properties of their corresponding organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices under various light-intensity conditions is important for improving the performance of these devices. We synthesized a series of copolymers based on poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-thioethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1',3'-di-2-thienyl-5',7'-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1',2'-c:4',5'-c']dithiophene-4,8-dione))] (PBDB-TS) and studied the effects of chlorine substitution of its thiophene-substituted benzodithiophene (BDT-Th) unit on its photovoltaic properties. Chlorination of the polymer resulted in a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology optimized for efficient charge transport with suppressed leakage current and an increased open-circuit voltage of the OPV device; this optimization led to a remarkable enhancement of the OPV device's power conversion efficiency (PCE) not only under the condition of 1 sun illumination but also under a low light intensity mimicking indoor light; the PCE increased from 8.7% for PBDB-TS to ∼13% for the chlorinated polymers, PBDB-TS-3Cl, and PBDB-TS-4Cl under the 1 sun illumination condition and from 5.3% for PBDB-TS to 21.7% for PBDB-TS-4Cl under 500 lx fluorescence illuminance. Interestingly, although the OPV PCEs under 1 sun illumination were independent of the position of chlorine substitution onto the polymer, PBDB-TS-4Cl exhibited better performance under simulated indoor light than its derivative PBDB-TS-3Cl. Our results demonstrate that efficient light absorption and charge-carrier generation play key roles in achieving high OPV efficiency under low-light-intensity conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hwan-Il Je
- Department of Materials Engineering and Convergence Technology and ERI, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Eul-Yong Shin
- Photo-Electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun Jun Lee
- Photo-Electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungju Ahn
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Kyungbuk, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungmin Park
- Photo-Electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyuk Im
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hi Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Gyeongsang National University and RIGET, 900, Gajwa-dong, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Jung Son
- Photo-Electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Energy and Environment, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Ki Kwon
- Department of Materials Engineering and Convergence Technology and ERI, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hamadani BH, Campanelli MB. Photovoltaic Characterization under Artificial Low Irradiance Conditions Using Reference Solar Cells. IEEE J Photovolt 2020; 10:10.1109/jphotov.2020.2996241. [PMID: 33457066 PMCID: PMC7808256 DOI: 10.1109/jphotov.2020.2996241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Due to the rapidly growing interest in energy harvesting from indoor ambient lighting for the powering of internet-of-things devices, accurate methods for measurements of the current vs voltage characteristics of light-harvesting solar photovoltaic devices must be established and disseminated. A key requirement when conducting such characterizations is to create and measure the irradiance from the test light, whose spectral output approximates the profile of some agreed-upon standard reference. The current methods for measuring the irradiance from indoor ambient lighting (e.g., illuminance meters) can yield unacceptable discrepancies in measurements from one lab to another. Here, we take the first steps in establishing a more accurate alternative: using a calibrated reference solar cell to measure the total irradiance of the test light when establishing the test light level, and then, once set, while collecting the characterization data for the test specimen. The method involves establishing multiple reference indoor lighting spectra that meet desired illuminance requirements, while also offering precise spectral irradiance profiles. Regardless of whether these proposed spectra are formally adopted, the test method is available and useful. The proposed approach facilitates inter-lab measurements, allows for a way to calculate an accurate power conversion efficiency, and establishes a dialogue between National Metrology Institutes to begin the process of drafting standards for solar cell testing under conditions that are significantly different than the well-established standard reporting condition used for rating solar modules that are deployed outdoors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Behrang H Hamadani
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Venkatesan S, Lin WH, Teng H, Lee YL. High-Efficiency Bifacial Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells for Application under Indoor Light Conditions. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019; 11:42780-42789. [PMID: 31618583 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b14876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
High-efficiency, stable bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are prepared for application under indoor light conditions. A 3-methoxypropionitrile solvent and cobalt redox couples are utilized to prepare the electrolytes. To obtain the best cell performance, the components of the DSSCs, including electrolytes, photoanodes, and counter electrodes (CEs), are regulated. The experimental results indicate that an electrolyte comprising a Co (II/III) ratio of 0.11/0.025 M, 1.2 M 4-tert-butylpyridine, Y123 dye, a CE with the platinum (Pt) layer thickness of 0.16 nm, and a photoanode with titanium dioxide (TiO2) layer thickness of 10 μm (6 μm main layer and 4 μm scattering layer) are the best conditions under which to achieve a high power conversion efficiency. It is also found that the best cells have high recombination resistance at the photoelectrode/electrolyte interface and low charge transfer resistance at the counter electrode/electrolyte interface, which contributes to, respectively, the high current density and open-circuit voltage of the corresponding cells. This DSSC can achieve efficiencies of 22.66%, 23.48%, and 24.52%, respectively, under T5 light illumination of 201.8, 607.8, and 999.6 lx. For fabrication of bifacial DSSCs with a semitransparent property, photoanodes without the TiO2 scattering layer, as well as an ultrathin Pt film, are utilized. The thicknesses of the TiO2 main layer and Pt film are reregulated. This shows that a Pt film with 0.55 nm thickness has both high transmittance (76.01%) and catalytic activity. By using an 8 μm TiO2 main layer, optimal cell efficiencies of 20.65% and 17.31% can be achieved, respectively, for the front-side and back-side illuminations of 200 lx T5 light. The cells are highly stable during a long-term performance test at both 35 and 50 °C.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei-Hsun Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan 70101 , Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Hsisheng Teng
- Department of Chemical Engineering , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan 70101 , Taiwan, R.O.C
- Hierarchical Green-Energy Materials (Hi-GEM) Research Center , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan 70101 , Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yuh-Lang Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan 70101 , Taiwan, R.O.C
- Hierarchical Green-Energy Materials (Hi-GEM) Research Center , National Cheng Kung University , Tainan 70101 , Taiwan, R.O.C
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jiang ML, Wen JJ, Chen ZM, Tsai WH, Lin TC, Chow TJ, Chang YJ. High-Performance Organic Dyes with Electron-Deficient Quinoxalinoid Heterocycles for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells under One Sun and Indoor Light. ChemSusChem 2019; 12:3654-3665. [PMID: 31168948 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201900505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A series of Y-shaped sensitizers incorporating quinoxaline or quinoxalinoid moieties were prepared and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By the introduction of quinoxalinoid functionalities, the absorption extinction coefficients could be enhanced. The molecular structures were modified by introducing an extra acceptor group (A) between a donor (D) and a π-bridge (D-A-π-A) and also by incorporating electron-donating substituents at various positions of the quinoxalinoid moiety. Some of the dyes and mixtures thereof were found to exhibit good light-harvesting efficiencies under both sunlight and indoor light, with efficiencies up to 7.92 % under one sun (AM 1.5G). When operated under indoor light, the efficiency could be boosted to 27.76, 28.74, and 30.45 % under 600, 1000, 2500 lux illumination, respectively. The best performance could be ascribed partly to an improved dye coverage on the TiO2 surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Ling Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Sec.4 Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Jun-Jie Wen
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Sec.4 Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Ming Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Central University, No.300, Zhongda Rd., Zhongli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsuan Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Sec.4 Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chau Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Central University, No.300, Zhongda Rd., Zhongli District, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Tahsin J Chow
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Sec.4 Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Yuan Jay Chang
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Sec.4 Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|