Nadja Adamovic

Potential of plasmonics in photovoltaic solar cells

ZusammenfassungUm die lokalisierte Lichtabsorption zu erhöhen und die Effizienz der extrem dünnen Solarzellen zu verbessern, ist die Nutzung der plasmonischen Strukturen einer der aussichtsreichsten Wege. Plasmonen sind eingebettete metallische Nanostrukturen, die es ermöglichen, einfallendes Licht im Sub-Mikrometerbereich zu lokalisieren und zu konzentrieren. Aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse haben dargelegt, dass die breitbandige optische Absorption in Dünnschicht-Solarzellen aufgrund der lokal erhöhten Feldstärke durch Oberflächenplasmonen verbessert werden kann. Dies führt zu kleineren Rekombinationsströmen, höheren Leerlaufspannungen, höheren Wirkungsgraden und sogar zu völlig neuen Konzepten für Solarzellen. Diese Review-Publikation präsentiert den aktuellen Stand der Forschung auf dem Gebiet der Nahfeld-Licht-Konzentration sowie effektives Licht-Trapping bei unterschiedlichen Zellen-Designs. Weiters werden aktuelle signifikante Verbesserungen der Lichtabsorption sowie des Gesamtwirkungsgrades für verschiedene Arten von Dünnschicht-Zellen (z. B. a-Si, organischen, GaAs) dargestellt.SummaryOne of the most promising ways to enhance the localized light absorption and to improve the efficiency of extremely thin solar cells is to use plasmonic structures. Plasmons are embedded metal nanostructures which can localize incident light on a sub-micrometric scale enabling light concentration and trapping. The current research shows that the optical broadband absorption in thin-film solar cells can be enhanced due to the local field enhancement by surface plasmons, leading to lower recombination currents, higher open circuit voltages, higher conversion efficiencies and even completely new solar-cell designs. This review paper will present the current research on different thin cell designs; on both near-field light concentration close to the nanoparticles resonance and effective light trapping. Recent significant enhancements of light absorption as well as overall efficiency enhancements have been reported for different types of thin film cells (e.g. a-Si, organic, GaAs).

Development of a totally implantable hearing aid

In this paper we described briefly the activities done in the frame of development of a system for contactless detection of the vibrations of the middle ear ossicle. The system has been constructed in the form of a fiber-optic vibrometer, which can be used as the microphone of a totally implantable hearing aid. The current state of the art is described and the initial measurements are presented and commented upon.

Front grid optimization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells using hybrid modeling approach

This paper describes the hybrid approach to modeling and simulation of thin film solar cells with a metal front grid. A 3D model with high aspect ratio of device thickness (100 s of nm) and its length and width (mm and cm range) was divided into two coupled models with different number of spatial dimensions (a 1D and a 3D model) on different length scales. The first one is modeling of the material level of solar cell which is then coupled with the second model taking into account the photovoltaic (PV) cell/module geometry. It calculates the photo-current flow through the transparent electrode dictated by the shape of metal front grid. This approach enables the separation of the technology-dependent material simulation from the front grid design simulation. In this paper, the use of the developed model to simulate solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 technology is described. The metallization in the form of parallel fingers was investigated and optimized for the described case study. Finally, the efficiency of solar thin-film modules using optimized cells with different widths was explored, thus enabling the tuning of the output voltage of the solar module while the power output remains unchanged.

Custom designed photovoltaic modules for PIPV and BIPV applications

The vision to use Photovoltaics (PV) as a decentralized and sustainable source of energy in their products is shared by thousands of designers, architects, and manufacturers worldwide. In principle, PV can be integrated directly in products, such as devices, vehicles, and buildings. Nowadays, the development of photovoltaic modules is still primarily driven by the idea of economies of scales, which leads to unvaried PV modules that are only good for large-area installations. These photovoltaic modules are not suitable for the integration into building skins, roof tiles, or electric devices because of their rigidness and their electrical constraints. Even companies which could provide a solution for these applications (flexible thin-film PV firms) are not providing customized PV modules because of the associated set-up times. This paper addresses these obstacles and the development of novel solar cell materials and manufacturing processes. A novel manufacturing process is designed to enable the adjustment ...

A circular economy for Photovoltaic waste - the vision of the European project CABRISS

Growing Photovoltaic (PV) panel waste causes a new environmental challenge, but on the other hand opportunities to create value and new economic paths. The main vision of the European project CABRISS “Implementation of a circular economy based on recycling, reused and recovered indium, silicon and silver materials for photovoltaic and other applications” is to develop a circular economy mainly for the photovoltaic, but also for electronic and glass industry. CABRISS bundles the efforts of 16 European companies and research institutions. The project consists in the development of: (i) recycling technologies to recover In, Ag and Si for the sustainable PV technology and other applications; (ii) a solar cell processing roadmap, which will use Si waste for the high throughput, cost-effective manufacturing of hybrid Si based solar cells and will demonstrate the possibility for the reusability and recyclability at the end of life of key PV materials. From the begin the CABRISS consortium decided to have all results in accordance with valid European standards to ease access to market.

European Materials Modelling Council

The aim of the European Materials Modelling Council (EMMC) is to establish current and forward looking complementary activities necessary to bring the field of materials modelling closer to the demands of manufacturers (both small and large enterprises) in Europe. The ultimate goal is that materials modelling and simulation will become an integral part of product life cycle management in European industry, thereby making a strong contribution to enhance innovation and competitiveness on a global level. Based on intensive efforts in the past two years within the EMMC, which included numerous consultation and networking actions with representatives of all stakeholders including Modellers, Software Owners, Translators and Manufacturers in Europe, the EMMC identified and proposed a set of underpinning and enabling actions to increase the industrial exploitation of materials modelling in Europe. EMMC will pursue the following overarching objectives in order to bridge the gap between academic innovation and industrial application: enhance the interaction and collaboration between all stakeholders engaged in different types of materials modelling, including modellers, software owners, translators and manufacturers, facilitate integrated materials modelling in Europe building on strong and coherent foundations, coordinate and support actors and mechanisms that enable rapid transfer of materials modelling from academic innovation to the end users and potential beneficiaries in industry, achieve greater awareness and uptake of materials modelling in industry, in particular SMEs, elaborate Roadmaps that (i) identify major obstacles to widening the use of materials modelling and (ii) elaborate strategies to overcome them.

The European project solardesign illustrating the role of standardization in the innovation system

The Framework Program 7 Project SolarDesign is focused on new photovoltaic (PV) integrated product solutions. To achieve this, new materials, flexible production - and business processes in PV powered product design and architecture had to be developed. Promising markets such as sustainable housing, temporary building structures, outdoor activities, electro-mobility, road lighting and mobile computing drive the demand for decentralized, attractive energy solutions. As products have to respect existing standards SolarDesign from the begin decided to proactively integrate standardization into the projects efforts. The example PV driven streetlamp demonstrates the influence of standards on performance requirements of the innovative PV materials.

Thin-film CIGS solar modules for design driven applications in the frame of the FP7 NMP project SolarDesign

The FP7 NMP project SolarDesign addresses the demand for aesthetically integrated photovoltaic materials by the development of novel solar cell materials, manufacturing processes and supportive actions (design toolbox). One key technology is a laser based monolithic interconnection process for thin-film solar cells. The material in focus is CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, Diselenide).

Microactuators for Fluidic Applications: Principles, Devices, and Systems

Much effort in microfluidics research has been aimed at designing microscale pumps, valves, switches, dispensers, mixers, filters, separators, and so on, which have a major role in the development of innovative systems like chemical process control, bioanalytical devices, medical drug delivery systems, environmental control, and others. Most of these microfluidic devices have one thing in common: the need for precise manipulation and control of small amounts of fluids. MEMS/NEMS research is continuously opening up new knowledge on modeling approaches, novel materials, and MEMS/NEMS processing technologies that stimulate and accelerate the development of new actuation principles and novel actuator configurations. This review paper presents research work on different actuation techniques that are used for the whole range of microfluidic applications. It covers thermomechanical and electrochemical actuation principles, as well as actuation induced with external electric or magnetic fields. It presents a brie...