• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2022

A chemically sintered and binder-free paste of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared using a binary-liquid mixture of 1-octanol and CCl₄. The 1:1 (v/v) complex of CCl₄ and 1-octanol easily interacted chemically with the TiO₂ NPs and induced the formation of a highly viscous paste. The as-prepared binary-liquid paste (P_BL)-based TiO₂ film exhibited the complete removal of the binary-liquid and residuals with the subsequent low-temperature sintering (~150℃) and UV-O₃ treatment. This facilitated the fabrication of TiO₂ photoanodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (f-DSSCs). For comparison purposes, pure 1-octanol-based TiO₂ paste (P_O) with moderate viscosity was prepared. The P_BL-based TiO₂ film exhibited strong adhesion and high mechanical stability with the conducting oxide coated glass and plastic substrates compared to the P_O-based film. The corresponding low-temperature sintered P_BL-based f-DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.5%, while it was 2.0% for P_O-based f-DSSC. The P_BL-based low- and high-temperature (500℃) sintered glass-based rigid DSSCs exhibited the PCE of 6.0 and 6.3%, respectively, while this value was 7.1% for a 500℃ sintered rigid DSSC based on a commercial (or conventional) paste.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

Beside several advantages, the PV power generation as a clean energy source, is still below the supply level due to high power generation cost. Therefore, the interest in fabricating low-cost thin film solar cells is increasing continuously. $Cu_2O$, a low cost photovoltaic material, has a wide direct band gap of ~2.1 eV has along with the high theoretical energy conversion efficiency of about 20%. On the other hand, it has other benefits such as earth-abundance, low cost, non-toxic, high carrier mobility ($100cm^2/Vs$). In spite of these various advantages, the efficiency of $Cu_2O$ based solar cells is still significantly lower than the theoretical limit as reported in several literatures. One of the reasons behind the low efficiency of $Cu_2O$ solar cells can be the formation of CuO layer due to atmospheric surface oxidation of $Cu_2O$ absorber layer. In this work, atomic layer deposition method was used to remove the CuO layer that formed on $Cu_2O$ surface. First, $Cu_2O$ absorber layer was deposited by electrodeposition. On top of it buffer (ZnO) and TCO (AZO) layers were deposited by atomic layer deposition and rf-magnetron sputtering respectively. We fabricated the cells with a change in the deposition temperature of buffer layer ranging between $80^{\circ}C$ to $140^{\circ}C$. Finally, we compared the performance of fabricated solar cells, and studied the influence of buffer layer deposition temperature on $Cu_2O$ based solar cells by J-V and XPS measurements.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2022

The power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells has reached over 18%. The rapid increase in the efficiency is largely associated with the development of electron acceptors paired with proper electron donor polymers. In this mini review, the progress of organic solar cells is reviewed in terms of the development of electron acceptors. In the first part of the review, fullerene-based electron acceptors that have led the first half of organic solar cell development were dealt with. In the second part of it, nonfullerene-based electron acceptors, which have potentials to overcome the demerits of fullerene-based electron acceptors and opened a new era of organic solar cells, were introduced. Lastly, some suggestions to tackle the efficiency barrier of 20% are given with the summary of the review in the closing section.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.31-40
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• 2016

The demands for photovoltaic systems on a large scale have grown dramatically and require new technologies to get the high efficiency and reliable operations of power conversion systems. These needs can be realized by the cost-effective and high performance digital revolutions and faster semiconductor switching devices. However, the new power systems have been more sophisticated and their reliability becomes critical issues. In this paper, a new fault-tolerance power conversion scheme for the photovoltaic systems is proposed. The proposed fault-tolerant scheme is able to supply energy from solar panels to loads intermittently in spite of a front boost converter open failure, and its voltage and current controllers are designed to improve the transient performance by using an average model design scheme. The proposed approach is verified both by simulations. The results will enable more timely and wide usage of alternative/renewable energy systems resulting in increased energy security.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07c
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• pp.1645-1647
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• 1996

Polycrystalline CdTe thin films -have been studied for photovoltaic application because of their high absorption coefficient and optimal band gap energy (1.54 eV) for solar energy conversion. In this study, we prepared CdTe films using RF-magnetron sputtering method and investigated structural, optical and electrical properties with spectrophotometer, XRD, EDX, and resistivity meter. CdTe films at $200\;^{\circ}C$ showed a mixture of zinc blend (Cubic) and wurtzite (hexagonal) phase. On the other hand, the films at $400\;^{\circ}C$ showed highly oriented structure having hexagonal structure. The resistivity of CdTe films deposited on $SiO_2$ substrates was about $10_7\;{\Omega}cm$. The value of resistivity decreased with the increase of the substrate temperature. CdTe were sputtered on CdS thin films prepared by chemical bath deposition for the formation of the heterojunction. I-V characteristics of these cells were measured at a light density of $100mw/cm^2$, AM. 1.0. The present thin film solar cells showed a conversion efficiency of about 5%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.262-263
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• 2005

Pt counter electrode based on flexible metal for dye-sensitized solar cells(DSCs) has been investigated. Photovoltaic structures on lightweight substrates have several advantages over the heavy glass-based structures in both terrestrial and space applications. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate electrochemical properties of Pt counter electrode both FTO glass and SUS sheet substrate. The DSCs composed of the counter electrode based on a stainless steel substrate has obtained conversion efficiencies comparable to that based on the conducting glass. The counter electrode based on the stainless steel substrate has the merit of improving the fill factor and conversion efficiency of the DSCs by reducing its internal resistance.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2005

It has been a long time since organic solar cells were expected as a low-cost energy-conversion device. Although practical use of them has not been achieved, technological progress continues. Morphology of the materials, organic/inorganic interface, metal cathodes, molecular packing and structural properties of the donor and acceptor layers are essential for photovoltaic response. We have fabricated solar cell devices based on zinc-phthalocyanine(ZnPc) as donor(D) and fullerene$(C_60)$ as electron acceptor(A) with doped charge transport layers, and BCP and $Alq_3$ as an exciton blocking layer(EBL). We have measured the photovoltaic characteristics of the solar cell devices using the Xe lamp as a light source. We were use of $Alq_3$ layer leads to external power conversion efficiency was $2.65\%$ at illumination intensity $100\;mW/cm^2$. Also we confirmed the optimum thickness ratio of the DA hetero-junction is about 1:2.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07a
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• pp.181-184
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• 2004

Organic semiconductors have attracted considerable attention due to their interesting physical properties followed by various technological applications in the area of electronics and opto-electronics. It has been a long time since organic solar cells were expected as a low-cost high-energy conversion device. Although practical use of them has not been achieved, technological progress continues. Morphology of the materials, organic/inorganic interface, metal cathodes, molecular packing and structural properties of the donor and acceptor layers are essential for photovoltaic response. We have fabricated solar-cell devices based on copper-phthalocyanine(CuPc) as a donor(D) and fullerene($C_{60}$) as an electron acceptor(A) with doped charge transport layers, and BCP as an exciton blocking layer(EBL). We have measured photovoltaic characteristics of the solar-cell devices using the xenon lamp as a light source.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.469.2-469.2
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• 2014

All-solid-state solar cell based on Chloride doped organometallic halide perovskite, (CH3NH3)PbIxCl3-x, has achieved a highly power conversion efficiency (PCE) to over 15% [1] and further improvements are expected up to 20% [2]. In this way, solar cells using novel light absorbing perovskite material are actively being studied as a next generation solar cells. However, making solution-process require high temperature up to $500^{\circ}C$ to form compact hole blocking layer and sinter the mesoporous oxide scaffold layer. Because of this high temperature process, fabrication of flexible solar cells on plastic substrate is still troubleshooting. In this study, we fabricated highly efficient flexible perovskite solar cells with PCE in excess of 11%. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit dense $TiO_2$ as hole blocking layer on ITO/PEN substrate. The all fabrication process is done at low temperature below $150^{\circ}C$. This work shows that one of the important blueprint for commercial use of perovskite solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.362-367
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• 2016

Recently, wireless charging systems have expanded their applications from household electrical appliances to outdoor activity devices. In wireless charging systems, solar cells have versatile advantages, such as abundant raw materials within the earth, reasonable prices of products, and highest power conversion efficiency. In this study, the photovoltaic effect between a silicon solar cell and a photon of infrared wavelength was simulated using a Shockley diode equation. A solar cell power charging system was then set up to: 1) clarify mechanisms of the charging interaction based on the photovoltaic effect with a laser source, and 2) verify interdependency of the parameters: laser settings and geometrical position between a solar cell and the laser. As was observed, the solar cell generates more power when the photon was irradiated uniformly, intensively, and vertically on the surface of the solar cell.