We all know that Buffer layers are used to aid the solar cell efficiency. But I want to know exactly how does Buffer layer do that? Like I need an answer/explanation like the way depletion region generation is explained in pn junction.
Hi Miah, the following publications directly address this question:
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep07803
Article The role of buffer layers in polymer solar cells
Hope this helps!
Hello Miah,
if you construct solar cells with high efficiency you must fulfil some conditions:
- The space charge region (SCR), where the separation of electron-hole pairs takes place, must be comparable to the inverse coefficient of absorption
- the recombination of electron-hole pairs within the SCR must be neglegible. This means, you need an undisturbed SCR with high cristallinity.
- If possible, the width of the SCR ought to be independent of the reverse bias. (Normally, the SCR extends with increasing voltage).
If you introduce a low doped buffer layer between n and p-region, the buffer layer determines in essentially the width of the space charge region. If you define a minimum reverse voltage, the region of the electric field extends over the whole SCR and stops in the layer below(n-region; maybe p). The element works nearly like an ionization chamber (condensor with to electrodes).
With Regard
R. Mitdank
Thank you Rüdiger. So many variables to be considered before designing!
Dear Miah, many thanks for asking this very interesting technical question. Rüdiger Mitdank already provided a rather comprehensive answer. According to the link cited below buffer layers play several important roles in perovskite solar cells. They not only aid in efficiently extracting energy carriers, but they also provide protection against various types of damage:
Perovskite solar cell stability and performance improved by optimizing buffer layers
Article Perovskite solar cell stability and performance improved by ...
(Published March 27, 2020)
For another useful article in this area please have a look at the following link:
ZnO cathode buffer layers for inverted polymer solar cells
Article ZnO Cathode Buffer Layers for Inverted Polymer Solar Cells
This paper has been posted as public full text on RG, so it can be freely downloaded as pdf file.
You can find and access many other relevant articles by directly searching the "Publications" section of RG. For example, just search for the term "buffer layers in solar cells" and then click on "Publications". This will provide you with a long list of helpful references which have been posted by RG members, some of them even as public full text available for free download:
https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?type=publication&query=buffer%20layers%20in%20solar%20cells
Good luck with your research and best wishes!
Hi. I hope the followimg link might help:
https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/10.0001010
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