Solution-processed thin film transparent photovoltaics: present challenges and future development

Liu, Tianle, Almutairi, Munerah M. S., Ma, Jie, Stewart, Aisling, Xing, Zhaohui, Liu, Mengxia, Hou, Bo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9918-8223 and Cho, Yuljae 2024. Solution-processed thin film transparent photovoltaics: present challenges and future development. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (1) , 49. 10.1007/s40820-024-01547-6

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Abstract

Electrical energy is essential for modern society to sustain economic growths. The soaring demand for the electrical energy, together with an awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, has been driving a shift towards the utilization of solar energy. However, traditional solar energy solutions often require extensive spaces for a panel installation, limiting their practicality in a dense urban environment. To overcome the spatial constraint, researchers have developed transparent photovoltaics (TPV), enabling windows and facades in vehicles and buildings to generate electric energy. Current TPV advancements are focused on improving both transparency and power output to rival commercially available silicon solar panels. In this review, we first briefly introduce wavelength- and non-wavelength-selective strategies to achieve transparency. Figures of merit and theoretical limits of TPVs are discussed to comprehensively understand the status of current TPV technology. Then we highlight recent progress in different types of TPVs, with a particular focus on solution-processed thin-film photovoltaics (PVs), including colloidal quantum dot PVs, metal halide perovskite PVs and organic PVs. The applications of TPVs are also reviewed, with emphasis on agrivoltaics, smart windows and facades. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities in TPV research are pointed out.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Physics and Astronomy
Publisher:	SpringerOpen
ISSN:	2311-6706
Funders:	EPSRC, Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 October 2024
Date of Acceptance:	23 September 2024
Last Modified:	11 Nov 2024 12:11
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/173279

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