One-Dimensional (1D) structured materials for improved charge transport in Inorganic Thin- Film Photovoltaics

Solar cells, which use sunlight to generate clean energy, are critical for the green energy transition. They can be used on buildings, prominent warehouse factories, parking lots, and soundproof highways.

However, the most well-known commercial solar cells, made of silicon, are heavy and bulky, making them difficult to integrate into building components.

The 1DShine project aims to develop lightweight materials that can absorb light at a comparable level to conventional silicon solar cells, with a more than 100 times lower thickness than silicon. The material is antimony sulfide.

In the 1DShine project, researchers at DTU Electro will develop new approaches to grow antimony sulfide with a dominant crystal direction (one-dimensional or 1D) to harvest sunlight using thin layers efficiently.

Unlike conventional three-dimensional materials, 1D materials can be produced with intrinsically passive grain boundaries and a low density of defects, so charge carriers generated by light absorption can migrate along the 1D ribbons unhindered.

This can be done quickly and accurately using tools for rapid and non-destructive tools for mapping solar cells, which has not been demonstrated at other international laboratories.

New insights generated in 1DShine will likely guide the discovery of a new generation of fascinating 1D materials and open new avenues for developing efficient and cost-effective lightweight solar cells.