Antimony Chalcogenide: Top Cell Alternative for Silicon Tandem Cells
- $693k Funded by ARENA
- $2.91m Total project cost
Summary
This project aims to reduce the cost of silicon (Si) based tandem solar cells by developing an earth-abundant, restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)-compliant antimony chalcogenide top cell.
Need
The power conversion efficiency of Si photovoltaic (PV) technology has reached its practical limit in the lab. Reducing Si PV costs further requires technological evolution beyond theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency limits. Tandem cells with appropriate thin-film PV technology on crystalline Si bottom cells offer the most compelling option for Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) reduction. Despite progress on the high bandgap top cells, there is no affirmed top cell solution for Si-based tandem cells that meets all key requirements of high-efficiency, stability, cost-effectiveness and limited environmental impact.
Action
This project aims to ease this transition by using an antimony chalcogenide top cell for Si tandem cells, offering performance gains without sacrificing other requirements. UNSW will work with project partners to maximise the potential of antimony chalcogenide and provide an appealing alternative top cell with excellent merits for Si-based tandems.
Starting from the UNSW research team’s recent 10% world-record efficiency antimony selenosulfide cells, progress towards beyond 20% efficiency Sb2(S,Se)3/Si tandem cells will be realised by implementing a bottom-up research and development approach, with combined experimental and theoretical exploration, identified key-step change processing strategies regarding the design of absorber, interfaces and architectures.
Learn more
Report: Antimony Chalcogenide: Top Cell Alternative for Silicon Tandem Cells Mid Report
This report shares project results and lessons learnt midway through the ‘Earth-abundant, RoHS-compliant antimony chalcogenide: top cell alternative for silicon tandem cells’ project.
Media Release: Research Boost for Solar Panel Efficiency and Cost Reduction
ARENA announced funding to 16 research projects to help address solar PV panel efficiency, overall cost reductions and end-of-life issues.
Outcome
This project is expected to deliver an alternative top cell technology for Si-based tandem cells, promoting the deployment of tandem PV technology for cost reduction. It will bring new findings, identify step change strategies, achieve key technological milestones, generate record efficiency antimony chalcogenide cells, and build the commercialisation roadmap for upscaling this developed technology.
This completion of this project will maximise chances of success and establish Australia at the forefront internationally for the next generation Si tandem cells technology.
Additional impact
The project will increase knowledge about RoHS-compliant and earth-abundant semiconductors suitable for stacking onto silicon for tandem cells. If successful, it will accelerate the transition for commercial use and future terawatt-scale deployment, as well as manufacturing sequences for high efficiency Si-based tandem cells using this material. The project will employ three full-time equivalent positions across UNSW, including two new research associate/assistant positions.
ARENAWIRE Blogs
Solar research funding awarded to 16 new projects
New funding will help solar researchers to develop panels that are more cost-effective and efficient.
