Trap Analysis in LEDs and Solar Cells analyzed by Thermally Stimulated Current →

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Trap Analysis in LEDs and Solar Cells analyzed by Thermally Stimulated Current

The performance of light-emitting (LEDs) and photovoltaic (PV) devices depends on the quality of the photoactive semiconductor material. The unintentional introduction of defects in the semiconductor material due to material impurities or during the fabrication process causes the deviation from optimal performance.

These defects are referred to as trap states, or in short “traps”, which are energetic states within the bandgap of a semiconductor. In general, traps can occur due to material impurities (in the bulk) or at the interfaces between layers of different materials.

In the following blog post, we will present how to characterize the trap states with the technique called thermally stimulated current (TSC). We also propose a method to reliably interpret the TSC results based on drift-diffusion simulations.

Check the full tutorial here: https://www.fluxim.com/trap-states-perovskite-solar-cells

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Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells. ISOS Protocols→

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Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells. ISOS Protocols

How do we perform aging experiments that are tailored to emerging PVs? This blog post summarizes the crucial guidelines that have been proposed by the community working on Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) to properly assess the stability of PSCs. These guidelines have been added to the existing indications provided by the ISOS protocols developed for Organic Solar Cells.

Read the full post here: https://www.fluxim.com/isos-protocols-stability-perovskite-solar-cells

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Reducing non-radiative recombination in Thin-Film Solar Cells→

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Reducing non-radiative recombination in Thin-Film Solar Cells

The open-circuit voltage (Voc) is the electrical potential difference between the two terminals of a solar cell, when there is no external load applied, hence no electric current flows. Correspondingly, this means that, when a voltage equivalent to the Voc is applied to the terminals of the solar cell, the recombination current (Jrec, which typically follows a non-ideal diode equation) and the photocurrent (Jph, the current generated by illuminating the solar cell) are equal, hence the net current is zero (Jrec=Jph at V= Voc).

Solar cells often present also non-radiative recombination mechanisms, in addition to the radiative one, as a result of poor material quality and non-idealities. To increase the Voc and thus potentially the power conversion efficiency, it is necessary to minimize the ΔVoc,nrad. It is, therefore, necessary to quantify the total loss and determine its origin.

Electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) allow to directly extract the ΔVoc,nrad for thin-film solar cells such as perovskite solar cells, kesterite, perovskite, organic, or quantum dot. solar cells.

After quantifying the losses, the combination of capacitance-voltage (CV), temperature-dependent voltage characteristics (JV-T), and capacitance-frequency (Cf-T) measurements are essential to identify the recombination mechanisms.

Check the full tutorial here: https://www.fluxim.com/voc-losses-perovkiste-solar-cells

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Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells →

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Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells

In many perovskite solar cells, hysteresis is observed between the forward and reverse current-voltage (IV) scans. This IV curve hysteresis can be problematic for the correct determination of the Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). While the exact origin of the IV curve hysteresis has remained a topic of debate, it is now widely accepted that mobile ions are the principal cause. However, it is still the subject of ongoing debates about how exactly mobile ions influence the device operation.

In this blog, we are showing how a proper drift-diffusion simulation can help in understanding how mobile ions are affecting the JV characteristics of a perovskite solar cell.

Read the full post here: https://www.fluxim.com/hysteresis-perovskite-solar-cells

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