The SCALED project innovates in the field of generation and storage of renewable energy, pursuing satisfactory solutions to social demands for a sustainable energy transition. We propose the development of devices using simple and economical fabrication techniques that further foster the penetration of photovoltaic solar energy for a more environmentally friendly future. In this context, active layers and selective contacts, alternative to those used in conventional technologies, will be investigated. The consortium is a pioneer in this field of research, having demonstrated its viability through the manufacturing of high efficiency silicon solar cells with selective contacts using simple processes and avoiding hazardous precursors. We intend to continue advancing in this line of research through the investigation of new designs of solar devices and the incorporation of solutions for energy storage.
With this objective, alternative selective contacts for silicon heterojunction cells will be studied, including the modification of the interface with the electrodes through the incorporation of dipole layers that improve carrier selectivity. We will also study new structures for transparent electrodes that do not require critical raw materials because of shortage or high demand. The possibility of incorporating graphene will also be studied to take advantage of its extraordinary electrical properties. In addition, light absorbers alternative to silicon will be investigated. These materials are generating a great interest as alternative absorbers for the next generation of thin-film solar cells based on abundant and harmless materials. For all this, the use of simple, reproducible and industrially scalable deposition techniques (evaporation, atomic-layer-deposition, spin-coating and sputtering) are proposed.
The incompatibility of the proposed materials and structures with traditional manufacturing processes in silicon devices requires the search for alternative approaches. The consortium has a proven experience in laser processes to create point contacts, as well as to define or isolate devices. As a novelty, laser-induced material transfer will be considered as a technique for the deposition of the electrodes and insulating layers. Finally, the consortium will collaborate with other groups to explore other applications related to energy storage. This field of research could benefit from the materials that will be developed in this project, since its implementation should improve the electrodes of lithium-ion batteries, increasing their performance and cycle life.