Energy Solution

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/17

Browse

Browsing Energy Solution by Author "Kibet, Joshua K."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Publication
    Optimization of Hole Transport Layer Materials for a Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cell Based on Formamidinium Tin Iodide
    (Energy Technology, 2021-10-31) Rono, Nicholas; Merad, Abdelkrim E.; Kibet, Joshua K.; Martincigh, Bice S.; Nyamori, Vincent O.
    Recently, lead-based perovskite solar cells have been mainly studied; however, these cells suffer from two main problems: the toxicity of lead and the instability of the devices, which limit their commercialization. Herein, a theoretical investigation of a lead-free perovskite solar cell based on formamidinium tin iodide (HC(NH2)2SnI3) with the general architecture: glass/FTO/WS2/HC(NH2)2SnI3/HTL/Au is reported. All calculations are performed with the SCAPS-1D solar cell simulator. Two inorganic (CuSCN and Cu2O) and two organic (P3HT and D-PBTTT-14) hole transport layer (HTL) materials are tested in this model. The effect of the external operating temperature and different metal work functions of the back contact of the cell on the overall performance of the devices is also studied. Simulations showed that, with the introduction of CuSCN, Cu2O, and P3HT as HTLs, the device can attain a remarkable efficiency of ≈21%. All the modeled devices showed remarkable performance of above 20% at higher temperatures of 380–420 K but degraded slightly when this range is exceeded. Relatively cheaper Pt, Ni, and Pd metals perform better, thus, can replace gold. These simulation results can provide avenues and directions for future advancement of the performance of lead-free perovskite solar cells.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Simulated performance of a novel solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell based on phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) electron transport layer
    (Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2021-07-01) Korir, Benjamin K.; Kibet, Joshua K.; Ngari, Silas M.
    Climate change has approached a major crisis limit worldwide due to exhaust emissions arising from the use of traditional transport fuels. Solar energy, therefore, appears to be the most promising alternative energy that can mitigate air quality and environmental degradation. Herein, we report numerical simulation of a novel model solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell consisting of solid-state layers with the configuration FTO/PC61BM/N719/CuSCN/Au using 1-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator software (SCAPS-1D). The motivation underpinning the numerical simulation of the solar cell architecture proposed in this study was to optimize phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) performance as the electron transport layer. In this model, the effects of varying several parameters—temperature, absorber thickness, defect density, and metallic back contact on the overall solar cell performance have been critically examined. After optimizing the input parameters, the optimal conversion efficiency was 5.38% while the optimized open-circuit voltage was 0.885 V. Besides, 70.94% was the optimum fill factor and the peak short-circuit current of 8.563 mA cm−2 was achieved. Built-in voltage of ~ 1.0 V was estimated from the Mott–Schottky curve and the cell band diagram. The power conversion efficiency obtained in this study is robust for this cell configuration, and is toxic-free compared to the lead-based perovskite solar cells. These findings are therefore useful in the advancement and fabrication of high-performance dye-based photovoltaic devices for large-scale industrial production.