Project 1.3 : Efficiency Enhancement of CIGS Solar Cells by Perovskite-CIGS Tandem Structure

 

            The goal of this project is to develop and fabricate perovskite solar cells utilizing CH₃NH₃PbI₃ as a photon absorber layer. This material has a band gap energy of about 1.6 eV which can be adjusted by changing the halidegroup to Cl or Br. The fabrication of the perovskite solar cells is relatively less complicated than other solar cells. Spin coating technique is employed for almost all layers of the perovskite solar cells, e.g. compact TiO₂ for hole blocking layer, mesoporous TiO₂ for electron transport layer, perovskite layer, hole transport layer such as spiro-OMeTAD. However, the metal electrode such as Ag or Au requires thermal evaporator. The perovskite solar cells will be fabricated on FTO-coated glass. Crystal structure, optical properties and electrical transport properties of perovskite materials will be studied. When the baseline efficiency of the perovskite devices is obtained, the transparent electrode such as Ag-nanowires will be investigated to replace Ag or Au electrode so that the perovskite solar cell will be used as the top cell of the tandem structure with Si or CIGS thin film solar cells whose band gap energy is less than that of the perovskite. This should enhance the efficiency of the solar cells.

 

 

Principal Investigator: Assistant Professor Dr. Sojiphong Chatraphorn
Collaborator: Asst. Prof. Dr. Kajornyod Yoodee, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surachate Limkumnerd, Asst. Prof. Dr. Patcha Chatraphorn, Dr. Chatchai Srinitiwarawong, Dr. Rangsima Chanphana, Dr. Thiti Taychatanapat
Affiliated Institutes: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University