Multiple-Color-Generating Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 Thin-Film Solar Cells via Dichroic Film Incorporation for Power-Generating Window Applications

Gang Yeol Yoo, Jae Seung Jeong, Soyoung Lee, Youngki Lee, Hee Chang Yoon, Van Ben Chu, Gi Soon Park, Yun Jeong Hwang, Woong Kim, Byoung Koun Min, Young Rag Do

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There are four prerequisites when applying all types of thin-film solar cells to power-generating window photovoltaics (PVs): high power-generation efficiency, longevity and high durability, semitransparency or partial-light transmittance, and colorful and aesthetic value. Solid-type thin-film Cu(In,Ga)S2 (CIGS) or Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGSSe) PVs nearly meet the first two criteria, making them promising candidates for power-generating window applications if they can transmit light to some degree and generate color with good aesthetic value. In this study, the mechanical scribing process removes 10% of the window CIGSSe thin-film solar cell with vacant line patterns to provide a partial-light-transmitting CIGSSe PV module to meet the third requirement. The last concept of creating distinct colors could be met by the addition of reflectance colors of one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal (PC) dichroic film on the black part of a partial-light-transmitting CIGSSe PV module. Beautiful violets and blues were created on the cover glass of a black CIGSSe PV module via the addition of 1D PC blue-mirror-yellow-pass dichroic film to improve the aesthetic value of the outside appearance. As a general result from the low external quantum efficiency (EQE) and absorption of CIGSSe PVs below a wavelength of 400 nm, the harvesting efficiency and short-circuit photocurrent of CIGSSe PVs were reduced by only ∼10% without reducing the open-circuit voltage (VOC) because of the reduced overlap between the absorption spectrum of CIGSSe PV and the reflectance spectrum of the 1D PC blue-mirror-yellow-pass dichroic film. The combined technology of partial-vacancy-scribed CIGSSe PV modules and blue 1D PC dichroic film can provide a simple strategy to be applied to violet/blue power-generating window applications, as such a strategy can improve the transparency and aesthetic value without significantly sacrificing the harvesting efficiency of the CIGSSe PV modules.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14817-14826
Number of pages10
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume9
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 May 3

Keywords

  • CIGS solar cell
  • blue-mirror-yellow-pass dichroic film
  • building-integrated photovoltaics
  • one-dimensional photonic crystal dichroic film
  • power-generating window applications

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)

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