• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2011

In this study, we have investigated the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells utilizing conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk-hetero junction(BHJ) device structures. We have fabricated poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT), poly[2methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyl-oxy)-1-4-phenylenevinylene] as an electron donor, [6,6]-phenyl $C_{61}$ butyric acid methylester(PCBM-$C_{61}$)as an electron acceptor, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) used as a hole injection layer(HIL), after fabricated active layer, between active layer and metal cathode(Al) deposited LiF interlayer(5 nm). The properties of fabricated organic solar cell(OSC) devices have been analyzed as a function of different thickness. The electrical characteristics of the fabricated devices were investigated by means J-V, fill factor(FF) and power conversion efficiency(PCE). We observed the highest PCEs of 0.628%(MDMO-PPV:PCBM-$C_{61}$) and 2.3%(P3HT:PCBM-$C_{61}$) with LiF inter-layer at the highest thick active layer, which is 1.3times better than the device without LiF inter-layer.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.50-54
• /
• 2013

In this work, the effects of blocking layer and optimally fabricated electrolyte were investigated with respect to impedance and conversion efficiency of the cells.A layer of $TiO_2$ less than ~200nm in thickness, as a blocking layer, was deposited by rf sputtering onto the F:$SnO_2$ (FTO) glass to be isolated from the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Also, optimum condition of electrolytes preparation for DSCs was investigated. 3-methoxyppropionitrie and redox pairs with LiI and $I_2$ were used as solvents for fabrication of electrolyte. The electrochemical impedances of DSCs using this photo-anode were $R_1$: 13.8, $R_2$: 15.1, $R_3$: 11.9 and $R_h$: $8.3{\Omega}$, respectively. The $R_2$ impedance related by electron transportation from porous $TiO_2$ to FTO showed lower than that of normal DSCs. The photo-conversion efficiency of prepared DSCs was 6.4% and approximately 1.3% higher than general one.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2019

This study proposed the fabrication and deposition of high purity crystalline $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles. Morphological properties of $core-TiO_2$ and coated $shell-Al_2O_3$ were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and transmission electron microscope - energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). The electrical properties of the prepared $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles were evaluated by applying them to a working electrode of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). The particle size, growth rate and the main crystal structure of $core-TiO_2$ were analyzed through dynamic light scattering system (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The $core-TiO_2$, which has a particle size of 17.1 nm, a thin film thickness of $20.1{\mu}m$ and a main crystal structure of anatase, shows higher electrical efficiency than the conventional paste-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). In addition, the energy conversion efficiency (6.28%) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the $core-TiO_2/shell-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles selectively controlled to the working electrode is 26.1% higher than the energy conversion efficiency (4.99%) of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the conventional paste method.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2014

Ocean thermal energy conversion(OTEC) is a power generation method that utilizes temperature difference between the warm surface seawater and cold deep sea water of ocean. As potential sources of clean-energy supply, Ocean thermal energy conversion(OTEC) power plants' viability has been investigated. Therefore, this paper evaluated the thermodynamic performance of solar-OTEC convergence system for the production with electric power and desalinated water. The comparison analysis of solar-OTEC convergence system performance was carried out as the fluid temperature, saturated temperature difference and pressure of flash evaporator under equivalent conditions. As a results, maximum system efficiency, electric power and fresh water output show at 40, 10, 2.5 kPa of the flash evaporator pressure, respectively. And their respective enhancement ratios were approximately 6.1, 18, 8.6 times higher than that of the base open OTEC system. Also, performance of solar-OTEC system is the highest in the flash evaporator pressure of 10 kPa.

• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.275-284
• /
• 2016

In the present work, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been dispersed alone in the same solvent of the active layer for improving performance parameters of the organic solar cells. Different concentrations of the ZnO NPs have been blended inside active layer of the solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which forms the hole-transport network, and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which forms the electron-transport network. In the present investigations, the ZnO NPs may represent an efficient tool for improving light harvesting through light scattering inside active layer, electron mobility, and electron acceptance strength which tend to improve photocurrent and performance parameters of the investigated solar cell. The fill factor (FF) of the ZnO-doped solar cell increases nearly 14% compared to the non-doped solar cell when the doping is 50%. The present investigations show that ZnO NPs improve power conversion efficiency of the solar cell from 1.23% to 1.64% with increment around 25% that takes place after incorporation of 40% as a volume ratio of the ZnO NPs inside P3HT:PCBM active layer.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2011

In this review, we have investigated the effect of $TiO_2$-based blocking layers (t-BLs), deposited on a transparent conductive oxide (TCO)-coated glass substrate, on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The t-BL was deposited using spin-coating or sputtering technique, and its thicknesses were varied to study the influence of the thin $TiO_2$ layer in between transparent conducting glass and nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ (nc-$TiO_2$). The DSSC with the t-BL showed the improved adhesion and the suppressed charge recombination at a TCO glass substrate than those without the t-BL, which led to the higher conversion efficiency.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.78-82
• /
• 2022

Inorganic-organic hybrid perovskite solar cells have demonstrated considerable improvements, reaching 25.5% of certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) in 2020 from 3.8% in 2009 comparable to silicon photovoltacis. However, there remains important concern on the stability of perovskite solar cells under environmental conditions that should be solved prior to commercialization. In order to overcome the problem, we have introduced a small amount of octylammonium iodide with longer alkyl chain than volatile methylammonium iodide into MAPbI₃ perovskites. The presence of octylammonium into perovskites were confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. Moreover, octylammonium-modified perovskite solar cells showed a PCE of 16.6% and enhanced moisture stability with an increased contact angle of 72.2° from 57.0°. This work demonstrated the importance of perovskite compositional engineering for improving efficiency and stability.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2012

This study aims to examine the effect of the combined application of green roof and PV system on the PV efficiency by measuring the temperature and performance of PV module in order to reduce the temperature on the roof using roof planting system and determine the potential of efficient increase in solar-light power generation. In the experimental methodology, either monocrystalline or polycrystalline PV module was installed in green roof or non-green roof, and then the surface temperature of PV was measured by TR-71U thermometer and again the performance, module body temperature, and conversion efficiency were measured by MP-160, TC selector MI-540, and PV selector MI-520, respectively. As a result, the average body temperature of monocrystalline module was lower by $6.5^{\circ}C$ in green roof than in non-green roof; that of polycrystalline module was lower by $8.8^{\circ}C$ in green roof than in non-green roof. In the difference of generation, the electricity generation of monocrystalline module in green roof was 46.13W, but that of polycrystalline module was 68.82 W, which indicated that the latter produced 22.69W more than the former.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2010.08a
• /
• pp.72-72
• /
• 2010

Recent development of organic solar cell approaches the level of 8% power conversion efficiency by the introduction of new materials, improved material engineering, and more sophisticated device structures. As for interface engineering, various interlayer materials such as LiF, CaO, NaF, and KF have been utilized between Al electrode and active layer. Those materials lower the work function of cathode and interface barrier, protect the active layer, enhance charge collection efficiency, and induce active layer doping. However, the addition of another step of thin layer deposition could be a little complicated. Thus, on a typical solar cell structure of Al/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO glass, we used Li:Al alloy electrode instead of Al to render a simple process. J-V measurement under dark and light illumination on the polymer solar cell using Li:Al cathode shows the improvement in electric properties such as decrease in leakage current and series resistance, and increase in circuit current density. This effective charge collection and electron transport correspond to lowered energy barrier for electron transport at the interface, which is measured by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Indeed, through the measurement of secondary ion mass spectroscopy, the Li atoms turn out to be located mainly at the interface between polymer and Al metal. In addition, the chemical reaction between polymer and metal electrodes are measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1355-1360
• /
• 2013

We have developed a new multifunctional material, 4,4',4"-tris(4-naphthalen-2-yl-phenyl)amine (2-TNPA), which can be used as a blue-emitting and hole-transporting material in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), as well as a donor material in organic solar cells (OSCs) and an active material in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). The OLED device doped with 3% 2-TNPA shows a maximum current efficiency of 3.0 $cdA^{-1}$ and an external quantum efficiency of 3.0%. 2-TNPA is a more efficient hole-transporting material than 4,4'-bis[N-(naphthyl-N-phenylamino)]biphenyl (NPD). Furthermore, 2-TNPA shows a power-conversion efficiency of 0.39% in OSC and a field-effect mobility of $3.2{\times}10^{-4}cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$ in OTFTs.