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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Report of the Workshop on Next-Generation Space PV: Thin Films

A workshop on the future use of thin-film photovoltaic devices in space power was convened at the 16th Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology Conference held at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. This workshop began by addressing: 1) What are the leading impediments or technological challenges to be overcome with regard to the use of thin-film PV in space? 2) What is the status of organic based cells? Will they have a role in space PV, if so when? and 3) What about an integrated PV/Li battery array-up and down sides? A discussion on these three questions pertaining to future use of thin film devices for space power systems is presented

Raffaelle, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Proposed acceptance, qualification, and characterization tests for thin-film PV modules

Details of a proposed test program for PV thin-film modules which the Department of Energy has directed the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) to prepare are presented. Results of one of the characterization tests that SERI has performed are also presented. The objective is to establish a common approach to testing modules that will be acceptable to both users and manufacturers. The tests include acceptance, qualification, and characterization tests. Acceptance tests verify that randomly selected modules have similar characteristics. Qualification tests are based on accelerated test methods designed to simulate adverse conditions. Characterization tests provide data on performance in a predefined environment.

Waddington, D.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Solution for Predictive Physical Modeling in CdTe and Other Thin-Film PV Technologies

The main goal of this work was to eliminate the ambiguity between the observed performance changes under stress and their physical root cause by enabling a depth of modeling that takes account of diffusion and drift at the atomistic level coupled to the electronic subsystem responsible for a PV device’s function. Development of advanced physical models describing capture/emission/ recombination phenomena relevant to multivalent dopants, amphoteric centers, and donor-acceptor pairs was also accomplished. These models, incorporating grain bulk, grain boundaries, and hetero-interface properties, were implemented in a self-contained simulation tool that drastically reduces interpretation ambiguity and, for the first time, allows for predictive design of thin-film PV devices.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Final Report: Preparation and Evaluation of N-Type CdSeTe and CdTe as an Absorber in Thin Film PV

The primary objective of this project was to demonstrate n-type CdTe and CdSeTe films prepared by in-situ doping methods using pre-doped source material. Our goal was to achieve electron density (>10 17 cm -3 ) and lifetime (>10 ns) in n-type CdTe and CdSeTe films. The focus was on indium as the dopant, as it is suitable for incorporation during melt growth of CdTe. It was thought that indium doped bulk crystals might exhibit self compensation and high resistivity, so post-growth annealing studies were planned to manipulate crystal stoichiometry, defects and electrical activity. Single crystals of CdTe:In and CdSe 0.4 Te 0.6 :In, with target In concentration 10 19 cm -3 , were grown by the vertical Bridgman crystal growth method at Washington State University (WSU). Incorporation of the intended In into the crystals was ~25%-30%, (2.5-3) ×10 18 cm -3 , according to glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS). Carrier concentration in CdTe:In crystals were very low until after a Cd anneal, at which point the concentration reached 8 ×10 17 cm -3 (~27% activation) according to Hall effect and time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL). CdSeTe:In, on the other hand, had ~100% carrier activation with no post-growth treatments, resulting in ~3×10 18 cm -3 carriers with a lifetime of 1.5 ns, near the radiative limit for this material.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Solar Photovoltaic and Storage Supply Chains and Technology and Market Opportunities

This talk will highlight the most recent efforts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to track solar photovoltaic (PV) and storage supply and demand in the United States and globally, as well as bottom-up calculations of manufacturing costs for facilities across the globe. We will begin with an overview of the global solar PV supply chain and 2022 benchmark input data used for NREL's bottom-up crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin film PV module manufacturing cost models. For the polysilicon, wafer, cell conversion, and module assembly steps of the c-Si supply chain, and for thin film modules, we will review the industry-collected input data and methods used for calculating the costs of goods sold (COGS); research and development (R&D) expenses; and sales, general, and business administration (S, G, and A) expenses. This 2022 benchmark analysis is compiled for state-of-the-art c-Si and thin film PV module manufacturing in several countries and regions; and will also include a quantified summary of the impacts of the manufacturing incentives and tax credits that are available for solar manufacturing and installations within the United States. Next generation technologies that lower PV manufacturing and installation costs, reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses, and improve system energy yield will also be highlighted. We will conclude with projections of solar market penetration to 2050 from NREL's Solar Futures Study and Annual Technology Baseline (ATB) model, which includes solar coupled with lower-cost storage scenarios as well as the range of future cost scenarios for other power generation sources. We look forward to sharing NREL's extensive work in these areas and discussing ideas for future directions.

economics↗
DOE OSTI2020

Chapter 6: Luminescence and Thermal Imaging of Thin-Film Photovoltaic Materials, Devices, and Modules

In this chapter, we describe luminescence and thermal imaging in the context of thin-film PV devices. First, we discuss both traditional and developing experimental designs, including dark LIT (DLIT), illuminated LIT, PL using different illumination configurations, traditional EL performed under forward -bias current injection, and contactless EL induced with sub -cell illumination patterns. Next, we provide some brief theoretical background to highlight relationships between fundamental materials properties and the resulting luminescence and thermal images. Finally, we give examples of thin-film PV PL, EL, and LIT images to demonstrate the utility of these imaging methods ranging from understanding the microstructure of active layers to managing the quality and reliability of full PV modules.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
NASA NTRS1985

Outdoor performance testing of thin-film devices

The Advanced Systems Research Group supports the photovoltaic advanced R&D (PV AR&D) project by providing outdoor (global) testing of PV cells, submodules, modules, and arrays. The group also provides in house engineering and analysis to identify and determine how technical issues such as cell/module/system adaptations, long term stability, reliability, economics, materials availability, safety, and environmental impacts affect the development and ultimate use of advanced PV thin film, innovative cell, and material technologies. A major thrust of the research effort is to develop and utilize instrumentation and procedures for monitoring and analyzing PV cells and submodules including outdoor performance and stability testing and life cycle accelerated stress testing. To accomplish the above, the solar energy research institute (SERI) outdoor PV test facility was established in 1982. The group has designed testing systems and analysis procedures for, and has tested, numerous amorphous silicon thin film submodules provided by SERI subcontractors and has performed long term outdoor stability tests on CdS/CuIr Se sub 2 and hydrogen passivated silicon solar cells. A significant contribution from this facility over the past year was the testing of large area amorphous silicon submodules.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1993

Film Fabrication Technologies at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has extensive capabilities for fabricating a variety of high-technology films. Much of the in-house work in NREL's large photovoltaics (PV) program involves the fabrication of multiple thin-film semiconducting layers constituting a thin-film PV device. NREL's smaller program in superconductivity focuses on the fabrication of superconducting films on long, flexible tape substrates. This paper focuses on four of NREL's in-house research groups and their film fabrication techniques, developed for a variety of elements, alloys, and compounds to be deposited on a variety of substrates. As is the case for many national laboratories, NREL's technology transfer efforts are focusing on Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA's) between NREL researchers and private industry researchers.

Mcconnell, Robert D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Effects of Photovoltaic Module Materials and Design on Module Deformation Under Load

Static structural finite element models of an aluminum-framed crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) module and a glass-glass thin film PV module were constructed and validated against experimental measurements of deflection under uniform pressure loading. Parametric analyses using Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) were performed to propagate simulation input uncertainties related to module material properties, dimensions, and manufacturing tolerances into expected uncertainties in simulated deflection predictions. This exercise verifies the applicability and validity of finite element modeling for predicting mechanical behavior of solar modules across architectures and enables computational models to be used with greater confidence in assessment of module mechanical stressors and design for reliability. Sensitivity analyses were also performed on the uncertainty quantification data sets using linear correlation coefficients to elucidate the key parameters influencing module deformation. This information has implications on which materials or parameters may be optimized to best increase module stiffness and reliability, whether the key optimization parameters change with module architecture or loading magnitudes, and whether parameters such as frame design and racking must be replicated in reduced-scale reliability studies to adequately capture full module mechanical behavior.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1985

Electricity from photovoltaic solar cells. Flat-Plate Solar Array Project of the US Department of Energy's National Photovoltaics Program: 10 years of progress

The objectives were to develop the flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) array technologies required for large-scale terrestrial use late in the 1980s and in the 1990s; advance crystalline silicon PV technologies; develop the technologies required to convert thin-film PV research results into viable module and array technology; and to stimulate transfer of knowledge of advanced PV materials, solar cells, modules, and arrays to the PV community. Progress reached on attaining these goals, along with future recommendations are discussed.

Christensen, Elmer↗
DOE OSTI2022

Solar and Storage Techno-Economic Analysis Tutorial for the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

This tutorial will highlight the most recent efforts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to track solar photovoltaic (PV) technology trends and manufacturing costs, project levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and project levelized cost of solar plus storage (LCOSS) for systems across the globe. We will begin with an overview of the global PV supply chain and 2021 benchmark input data for NREL's crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin film PV module manufacturing cost models. The framework that we follow and will review during this tutorial provides a methodology to prepare bottom-up manufacturing cost models including the items within the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For the polysilicon, wafer, cell conversion, and module assembly steps of the c-Si supply chain, and for thin film modules, we will review input data and methods useful for calculating the costs of goods sold (COGS); research and development (R&D) expenses; and sales, general, and business administration (S, G, &A) expenses. This 2021 benchmark analysis is compiled for state-of-the-art c-Si and thin film module manufacturing. We will also review methods for our 2021 system benchmark costs calculations and LCOE technoeconomic analysis of PV systems and solar plus storage systems. Next generation technologies that lower PV manufacturing and installation costs, reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses, and improve system energy yield will also be highlighted. Techniques for comparing LCOE performance will also be reviewed. We look forward to sharing NREL's extensive work in these areas and discussing ideas for future directions.

cost models↗
DOE OSTI2024

As‐Doped Polycrystalline CdSeTe: Localized Defects, Carrier Mobility and Lifetimes, and Impact on High‐Efficiency Solar Cells

Abstract The efficiency potential for single‐junction photovoltaics (PV) is described by the detailed balance model, which requires the elimination of nonradiative recombination and perfect minority carrier collection. Improvements in GaAs, Si, and perovskite PV follow this model. It might be more complex for CdTe, a leading thin‐film PV technology. While lifetime, passivation, and doping goals for 25% efficient CdTe solar cells are largely reached, voltage is ≈20% below the detailed balance limit. Why is that? In Se‐alloyed CdSe x Te 1‐x (Se is required for >20% efficiency) additional losses can occur due to electrostatic and bandgap fluctuations and due to electronic trap states. To understand mechanisms limiting CdSeTe solar cell performance and to suggest improvements, carrier dynamics, and transport in CdSe x Te 1‐x with variation in Se composition and as doping is analyzed. It is shown that trapping, likely due to anion‐site defects and their complexes, is correlated with low charge carrier mobility of 0.1–0.6 cm 2 (Vs) −1 . Even with 1000 ns charge carrier lifetimes, carrier diffusion length is less than the absorber thickness, reducing efficiency to ≈23%. Device simulations are used to analyze the performance of CdSe x Te 1‐x solar cells; thermodynamic models are not sufficient for absorbers with electronic disorder and trapping.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1991

Flexible copper-indium-diselenide films and devices for space applications

With the ever increasing demands on space power systems, it is imperative that low cost, lightweight, reliable photovoltaics be developed. One avenue of pursuit for future space power applications is the use of low cost, lightweight flexible PV cells and arrays. Most work in this area assumes the use of flexible amorphous silicon (a-Si), despite its inherent instability and low efficiencies. However, polycrystalline thin film PV such as copper-indium-diselenide (CIS) are inherently more stable and exhibit better performance than a-Si. Furthermore, preliminary data indicate that CIS also offers exciting properties with respect to space applications. However, CIS has only heretofore only produced on rigid substrates. The implications of flexible CIS upon present and future space power platforms was explored. Results indicate that space qualified CIS can dramatically reduce the cost of PV, and in most cases, can be substituted for silicon (Si) based on end-of-life (EOL) estimations. Furthermore, where cost is a prime consideration, CIS can become cost effective than gallium arsenide (GaAs) in some applications. Second, investigations into thin film deposition on flexible substrates were made, and data from these tests indicate that fabrication of flexible CIS devices is feasible. Finally, data is also presented on preliminary TCO/CdS/CuInSe2/Mo devices.

Armstrong, J. H.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Embodied energy and carbon from the manufacture of cadmium telluride and silicon photovoltaics

Here, looking beyond the traditional cost and efficiency metrics of photovoltaics (PV), this work evaluates the impact of embodied energy, embodied carbon, and energy payback time of two dominant technologies (CdTe and Si) on global decarbonization goals. The relative effects of PV technology type, technological advances, energy grid mix, and recycling are evaluated in terms of fostering decarbonization goals. If the highest carbon-intensity scenarios are realized, 2%-14% of the remaining estimated global carbon budget might be consumed to manufacture modules without including their balance of systems. Applying a carbon cost indicates that CdTe might have an additional value of $\$$0.02-$\$$0.04/W relative to Si PV manufactured with the same energy mix. Due to the scale of the challenge, any actions leading to an increased deployment of thin-film PV and/or a significant decrease in the deployed PV's embodied carbon through changing the manufacturing grid mix have demonstrable value in helping the world stay within its remaining estimated carbon budget.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Perspectives of Open-Air Processing to Enable Perovskite Solar Cell Manufacturing

We report high throughput open-air processing techniques for the scalable production of all device and barrier layers for perovskite photovoltaics (PV). This work discusses and resolves some of the most formidable barriers to module-level scaling that the perovskite community has been facing. Our advanced technoeconomic manufacturing analysis indicates that vacuum-based processes with high capital expenditures (CapEx) and low throughputs dominate the cost of production. Open-air fabrication methods offer low CapEx routes to manufacturing, but achieving reproducibility in ambient conditions with varying relative humidity has been a persistent challenge. The use of rapid processing methods with plasma curing to convert films from the solution-state enables reproducibility, moisture immunity, and the highest perovskite PV efficiency produced in open-air. These methods are readily translatable to in-line processing where layers are sequentially deposited without the need for lengthy post-annealing steps that reduce throughput and involve additional equipment. Significant progress is demonstrated in reduced manufacturing costs as perovskites contend as a commercially viable next-generation thin film PV technology.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Water intensity of photovoltaic module manufacturing at the terawatt scale

As the U.S. ramps photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing to the terawatt scale and emphasizes re-shoring manufacturing, potential regional impacts on the U.S. water supply should be considered, particularly since many PV companies rely almost exclusively on public water supplies for manufacturing. This work surveys the academic literature and PV manufacturer reports to estimate the water intensity of monocrystalline silicon, multicrystalline silicon, and cadmium telluride modules manufactured at the terawatt scale, determining that on average, cadmium telluride manufacturing is less water intensive on a per megawatt scale – this is anticipated to be true for all thin film PV manufacturing. While much lower than the water intensity of thermoelectric (e.g., coal) energy generation, significant issues and gaps with PV manufacturing data quality in academic studies are identified which cause estimates to vary by over 1000x (0.04 – 49 trillion liters/terawatt). Data issues are discussed and the need for accurate accounting of water resources (e.g., via continuous, updated information during PV manufacturing) is highlighted. The opportunity to reconfigure decommissioned thermoelectric sites to PV manufacturing is also explored. Finally, factors that influence PV manufacturing water intensity, from individual manufacturing steps to trends across the PV industry, are examined and water conservation opportunities are presented.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

CdTe Core: Final Technical Report (FTR)

CdTe is presently the cost-leading thin-film PV technology, directly competing with Si at scale, even when domestically manufactured. While an impressive technology, its efficiency remains much below the detailed balance limit with the largest cause due to its low photovoltage and fill factor. To realize gains, the carrier concentration, minority carrier lifetime, and interface recombination all need to be improved simultaneously over historic levels. Using a new defect chemistry (group V doping instead of copper) has been identified as a viable route using single crystal systems. This project focused on implementing this new defect chemistry in scalable, polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic CdTe devices with tasks focusing improvements to the front interface, absorber, and rear interface as well as capability development & stakeholder engagement. The goal of the project was to establish a strategy using devices, test structures, detailed characterization, and modeling to quantify the sources of losses in state-of-the-art CdTe photovoltaic devices. Using this strategy and advanced synthesis, losses at the front interface, absorber, and rear interface were worked on in parallel. The final objective was to significantly improve the voltage deficit in CdTe devices to enable improvements in photovoltage and efficiency that can be implemented by industry in the near-term. Over the course of the project, the team developed new characterization techniques, analysis, and modeling which were then applied to state-of-the-art materials generated internally and collaboratively. In particular to enable rapid progress, NREL worked closely with First Solar where NREL grew complete devices as well as ones that interleaved process steps where First Solar had completed different steps such as absorber growth or absorber growth and activation using their baseline methods. Using detailed characterization and analysis including photoemission, photoluminescence, and scanning probe techniques enabled understanding of the loss pathways and area for improvements in our own and First Solar s materials. Ultimately, this contributed to the first series of new world record CdTe efficiencies since 2016, culminating in a 23.1% certified cell that was P-doped along with As-doped cells of similar performance. Internally, NREL improved the statistical variation in baseline As-doped devices and improved average photovoltage by over 100 mV. This was done through an improvement in absorber quality, changed front interface, and improved back contact. In addition to materially improving the fabrication processes at NREL, characterization, analysis, and modeling were developed and disseminated. NREL also played a pivotal role in community building over the course of this project working closely with the Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium. NREL worked in a series of collaborations with academic and industry partners, leveraging knowledge and innovations from this project, as well as helped organize a series of workshops to ensure rapid progress in the field. Working closely with the academic community has led to a dissemination of knowledge; working with First Solar as increased US competitiveness First Solar expanded domestic production to ~10 GW and opened new facilities.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗