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Solar Energy Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2010) | Viewed by 120373

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Claes-Göran S. Granqvist

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Ångström Laboratory, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, PO Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
Interests: materials science for solar energy and energy savings; this includes thin films and nanomaterials for sensors, photocatalysis, electrochromics and thermochromics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Solar energy materials are used to harness the sun’s energy to the benefit of mankind. Their optical properties are tuned to the radiation that prevails in our ambience and they can absorb, reflect, transmit or emit radiation in the wavelength ranges for thermal, solar and visible radiation. Among their applications we note solar cells of many types, solar thermal collectors, energy efficient windows and facades with static or dynamic properties, photo-catalytic converters, self-cleaning surfaces, surfaces for passive radiative cooling, to and many more. The materials can be metals, semiconductors and dielectrics including polymers; they can bulk-like as well as thin films. Nanomaterials are of particular interest. Fundamental and applied work, including thin film deposition, is of interest for this journal issue.

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Claes-Göran S. Granqvist

Keywords

  • solar cells
  • solar collectors
  • energy efficient windows and facades
  • smart windows
  • transparent conductors
  • solar photo-catalysis
  • sky cooling
  • thin films
  • nanomaterials

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 602 KiB  
Article
Solvent Vapor Treatment Effects on Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Thin Films and its Application for Interpenetrating Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
by Tetsuro Hori, Varutt Kittichungchit, Hiroki Moritou, Hitoshi Kubo, Akihiko Fujii and Masanori Ozaki
Materials 2010, 3(11), 4939-4949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3114939 - 15 Nov 2010
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 8099
Abstract
The solvent vapor treatment (SVT) for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PAT6) films and its application to interpenetrating heterojunction organic solar cells have been studied. It was found that SVT could improve the crystallinity and electrical characteristics of the PAT6 films. We fabricated organic solar cells with [...] Read more.
The solvent vapor treatment (SVT) for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PAT6) films and its application to interpenetrating heterojunction organic solar cells have been studied. It was found that SVT could improve the crystallinity and electrical characteristics of the PAT6 films. We fabricated organic solar cells with an interpenetrating structure of PAT6 and fullerenes utilizing the SVT process, and discuss the improved performance of the solar cells by taking the film crystallinity, optical properties, and morphology into consideration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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7 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
Photovoltaic Properties in Interpenetrating Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells Utilizing MoO3 and ZnO Charge Transport Buffer Layers
by Tetsuro Hori, Hiroki Moritou, Naoki Fukuoka, Junki Sakamoto, Akihiko Fujii and Masanori Ozaki
Materials 2010, 3(11), 4915-4921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3114915 - 8 Nov 2010
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 11858
Abstract
Organic thin-film solar cells with a conducting polymer (CP)/fullerene (C60) interpenetrating heterojunction structure, fabricated by spin-coating a CP onto a C60 deposit thin film, have been investigated and demonstrated to have high efficiency. The photovoltaic properties of solar cells with [...] Read more.
Organic thin-film solar cells with a conducting polymer (CP)/fullerene (C60) interpenetrating heterojunction structure, fabricated by spin-coating a CP onto a C60 deposit thin film, have been investigated and demonstrated to have high efficiency. The photovoltaic properties of solar cells with a structure of indium-tin-oxide/C60/ poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PAT6)/Au have been improved by the insertion of molybdenum trioxide (VI) (MoO3) and zinc oxide charge transport buffer layers. The enhanced photovoltaic properties have been discussed, taking into consideration the ground-state charge transfer between PAT6 and MoO3 by measurement of the differential absorption spectra and the suppressed contact resistance at the interface between the organic and buffer layers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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23 pages, 190 KiB  
Article
Transparent Conducting Oxides for Photovoltaics: Manipulation of Fermi Level, Work Function and Energy Band Alignment
by Andreas Klein, Christoph Körber, André Wachau, Frank Säuberlich, Yvonne Gassenbauer, Steven P. Harvey, Diana E. Proffit and Thomas O. Mason
Materials 2010, 3(11), 4892-4914; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3114892 - 2 Nov 2010
Cited by 390 | Viewed by 31530
Abstract
Doping limits, band gaps, work functions and energy band alignments of undoped and donor-doped transparent conducting oxides Zn0, In2O3, and SnO2 as accessed by X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) are summarized and compared. The presented [...] Read more.
Doping limits, band gaps, work functions and energy band alignments of undoped and donor-doped transparent conducting oxides Zn0, In2O3, and SnO2 as accessed by X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) are summarized and compared. The presented collection provides an extensive data set of technologically relevant electronic properties of photovoltaic transparent electrode materials and illustrates how these relate to the underlying defect chemistry, the dependence of surface dipoles on crystallographic orientation and/or surface termination, and Fermi level pinning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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11 pages, 439 KiB  
Article
Postfunctionalization of Alkyne-Linked Conjugated Carbazole Polymer by Thermal Addition Reaction of Tetracyanoethylene
by Tsuyoshi Michinobu and Hiroyuki Fujita
Materials 2010, 3(10), 4773-4783; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3104773 - 15 Oct 2010
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 11366
Abstract
The postfunctionalization of the main chain alkyne moieties of carbazole containing poly(arylenebutadiynylene)s was attempted by using a high yielding addition reaction between electron rich alkynes and a strong acceptor molecule, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). After successful postfunctionalization, the polymer band gap decreased due to the [...] Read more.
The postfunctionalization of the main chain alkyne moieties of carbazole containing poly(arylenebutadiynylene)s was attempted by using a high yielding addition reaction between electron rich alkynes and a strong acceptor molecule, tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). After successful postfunctionalization, the polymer band gap decreased due to the intramolecular donor-acceptor interactions. The resulting donor-acceptor alternating polymer showed a very broad charge-transfer band in the visible region as well as redox activities in both anodic and cathodic directions. The optical band gap showed good agreement with the electrochemical band gap. Furthermore, the thermal stability was enhanced after postfunctionalization. These features of the donor-acceptor alternating polymer are expected to be useful for high performance activities in organic solar cell applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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Review

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26 pages, 402 KiB  
Review
Thermotropic and Thermochromic Polymer Based Materials for Adaptive Solar Control
by Arno Seeboth, Ralf Ruhmann and Olaf Mühling
Materials 2010, 3(12), 5143-5168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3125143 - 6 Dec 2010
Cited by 180 | Viewed by 23617
Abstract
The aim of this review is to present the actual status of development in adaptive solar control by use of thermotropic and organic thermochromic materials. Such materials are suitable for application in smart windows. In detail polymer blends, hydrogels, resins, and thermoplastic films [...] Read more.
The aim of this review is to present the actual status of development in adaptive solar control by use of thermotropic and organic thermochromic materials. Such materials are suitable for application in smart windows. In detail polymer blends, hydrogels, resins, and thermoplastic films with a reversible temperature-dependent switching behavior are described. A comparative evaluation of the concepts for these energy efficient materials is given as well. Furthermore, the change of strategy from ordinary shadow systems to intrinsic solar energy reflection materials based on phase transition components and a first remark about their realization is reported. Own current results concerning extruded films and high thermally stable casting resins with thermotropic properties make a significant contribution to this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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25 pages, 2058 KiB  
Review
Application of Nanostructures in Electrochromic Materials and Devices: Recent Progress
by Jin Min Wang, Xiao Wei Sun and Zhihui Jiao
Materials 2010, 3(12), 5029-5053; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3125029 - 26 Nov 2010
Cited by 107 | Viewed by 16055
Abstract
The recent progress in application of nanostructures in electrochromic materials and devices is reviewed. ZnO nanowire array modified by viologen and WO3, crystalline WO3 nanoparticles and nanorods, mesoporous WO3 and TiO2, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanotubes, Prussian blue nanoinks and [...] Read more.
The recent progress in application of nanostructures in electrochromic materials and devices is reviewed. ZnO nanowire array modified by viologen and WO3, crystalline WO3 nanoparticles and nanorods, mesoporous WO3 and TiO2, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanotubes, Prussian blue nanoinks and nanostructures in switchable mirrors are reviewed. The electrochromic properties were significantly enhanced by applying nanostructures, resulting in faster switching responses, higher stability and higher optical contrast. A perspective on the development trends in electrochromic materials and devices is also proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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17 pages, 396 KiB  
Review
Review of the Two-Step H2O/CO2-Splitting Solar Thermochemical Cycle Based on Zn/ZnO Redox Reactions
by Peter G. Loutzenhiser, Anton Meier and Aldo Steinfeld
Materials 2010, 3(11), 4922-4938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma3114922 - 12 Nov 2010
Cited by 177 | Viewed by 15721
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the work to date on the two‑step solar H2O and/or CO2 splitting thermochemical cycles with Zn/ZnO redox reactions to produce H2 and/or CO, i.e., synthesis gas—the precursor to renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuels. [...] Read more.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the work to date on the two‑step solar H2O and/or CO2 splitting thermochemical cycles with Zn/ZnO redox reactions to produce H2 and/or CO, i.e., synthesis gas—the precursor to renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The two-step cycle encompasses: (1) The endothermic dissociation of ZnO to Zn and O2 using concentrated solar energy as the source for high-temperature process heat; and (2) the non-solar exothermic oxidation of Zn with H2O/CO2 to generate H2/CO, respectively; the resulting ZnO is then recycled to the first step. An outline of the underlying science and the technological advances in solar reactor engineering is provided along with life cycle and economic analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Materials)
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