S6: Third generation Photovoltaic Technologies with emphasis on Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

Third-generation photovoltaic technologies comprising of dye sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells and organic solar cells, will have a great impact on the global deployment of renewable energy. Generally, these photovoltaic cells are layered-structure devices, consisting of nanostructured layers with multiple functionalities comprising of charge collection, extraction and photoconversion. Nanostructured layers including anode/cathode buffer layers, interfacial modification layers, and photon active layers are synthesized by various physical and chemical deposition techniques.

Advanced nanotechnology fabrication approaches have accelerated the design and development of novel nanostructured materials, which is driving the advancements in solar cell performance. The nanomaterials and nanostructures critically impact the optical and electronic properties of the functional layers by modulating their morphology, microstructure, and surface states; thereby influencing the output voltage and conversion efficiency. In this session, we aim to have a detailed discussion on recent developments in nanostructured materials and learn about the the designs for their integration with “third-generation photovoltaic technologies”.

 

Proposed sessions

• Fundamental physics of energy conversion in solar cells
• Synthesis, fabrication and characterization techniques for solar cells and modules
• Role of nanostructures, functionalities, and effectiveness of various nanomaterials in improving the performance of dye sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells and organic solar cells.
• Methods for improving the lifetime of solar cells
• Lead-free perovskite solar cells

 

Symposium organizers

Kai Wang, Penn State University, USA, kqw5449@psu.edu