Characterizing Electrochemically Deposited ZnO / Cu2O Heterojunction Solar Cells and Resolving Structural Issues to Optimize Efficiency and Create Cheap, Easily Manufactured (2015)

Undergraduate: Arthur Wood

Faculty Advisor: Rene Lopez
Department: Physics & Astronomy

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In recent years, huge advancements have been made in the efficiency of solar devices but the costs and difficulty of manufacturing these high efficiency cells still limit their role as major sources of electricity. Major expenses in efficient solar cell production come from: the need for rare and expensive materials, and highly specialized and demanding production processes. ZnO/Cu_2 O thin film solar cells are promising for their relatively high efficiency, low cost of key materials, and potentially inexpensive and environmentally friendly production. These devices still face problems of their own however, such as difficulties in production, structural stability and a narrow range of parameters for high efficiency operation. Many research groups have sought to solve these problems and boost efficiency by using methods that once again rely on rare, expensive, or hazardous materials and highly specialized production; defeating part of what made these devices so attractive. We believe we will be able to create higher efficiency devices through use of relatively simple, inexpensive, and clean electrodeposition of Cu2O on top of ZnO films, using previous works to fine tune the layers and resolve some of the fatal structural defects associated with films created in this fashion. Having a clean, simple, and inexpensive production process would allow poorer and less technologically equipped nations to produce solar cells and begin replacing their own traditional sources of energy.