Sustainable Material Solutions for Solar Energy Technologies: Processing Techniques and Applications

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Preface
Section I: Trends in Materials Development for Solar Energy Applications
    Chapter 1. Bismuth-based nanomaterials for energy applications
        Abstract
        1.1 Introduction
        1.2 Photovoltaics
        1.3 Thermoelectric devices
        1.4 Batteries & Supercapacitors
        1.5 Solar-hydrogen production
        1.6 Conclusions
        Acknowledgements
        References
    Chapter 2. Emergent materials and concepts for solar cell applications
        Abstract
        2.1 Introduction
        2.2 Perovskite solar cells
        2.3 III–V semiconductor materials for multijunction solar cells applications
        2.4 Final remarks and future perspectives
        References
    Chapter 3. Novel dielectrics compounds grown by atomic layer deposition as sustainable materials for chalcogenides thin-films photovoltaics technologies
        Abstract
        3.1 Introduction
        3.2 Atomic layer deposition technique
        3.3 Atomic layer deposition applied on chalcogenides thin films technologies
        3.4 Final remarks
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 4. First principles methods for solar energy harvesting materials
        Abstract
        4.1 Introduction
        4.2 Fundamental concepts
        4.3 Selected materials with solar energy harvesting implementations
        4.4 Conclusion
        References
Section II: Sustainable Materials for Photovoltaics
    Chapter 5. Introduction to photovoltaics and alternative materials for silicon in photovoltaic energy conversion
        Abstract
        5.1 Introduction
        5.2 Current status of photovoltaics
        5.3 Fundamental properties of photovoltaics semiconductors
        5.4 Physics of solar cell
        5.5 Categories of the photovoltaic market
        5.6 Commercialization of Si solar cells
        5.7 Status of alternative photovoltaics materials
        5.8 Thin film technology
        5.9 Material selection in thin film technology
        5.10 Thin film deposition techniques
        5.11 Copper indium gallium selenide-based solar cell
        5.12 Cadmium telluride solar cells
        5.13 Multijunction solar cells
        5.14 Emerging solar cell technologies
        5.15 Summary, conclusions, and outlook
        Acknowledgment
        References
    Chapter 6. An overview on ferroelectric photovoltaic materials
        Abstract
        6.1 Overview
        6.2 Ferroelectric materials
        6.3 Photovoltaic effect
        6.4 Barium titanate
        6.5 Bismuth ferrite
        6.6 Conclusion
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 7. Nanostructured materials for high efficiency solar cells
        Abstract
        7.1 Introduction
        7.2 Nanostructures and quantum mechanics
        7.3 Quantum wells in solar cells
        7.4 Quantum wires (nanowires) in solar cells
        7.5 Quantum dots in solar cells
        7.6 Conclusions
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 8. Crystalline-silicon heterojunction solar cells with graphene incorporation
        Abstract
        8.1 Heterojunction solar cells and graphene
        8.2 Fabrication of silicon heterojunction solar cell
        8.3 Synthesis of graphene
        8.4 Conclusion
        Acknowledgment
        References
    Chapter 9. Tin halide perovskites for efficient lead-free solar cells
        Abstract
        9.1 Introduction
        9.2 Halide perovskite solar cells: why tin?
        9.3 ASnX3: a brief historical excursus
        9.4 Toward efficient and stable ASnX3 PSCs
        9.5 Conclusion
        References
Section III: Sustainable Materials for Photocatalysis and Water Splitting
    Chapter 10. Photocatalysis using bismuth-based heterostructured nanomaterials for visible light harvesting
        Abstract
        10.1 Introduction
        10.2 Fundamentals of heterogeneous photocatalysis
        10.3 Bismuth-based heterostructures for photocatalytic applications
        10.4 Conclusions
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 11. Recent advances in 2D MXene-based heterostructured photocatalytic materials
        Abstract
        11.1 Introduction
        11.2 Synthesis of 2D-MXenes
        11.3 Photocatalytic applications
        11.4 Conclusion and future prospects
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 12. Atomic layer deposition of materials for solar water splitting
        Abstract
        12.1 Introduction
        12.2 Solar energy
        12.3 Photoelectrochemical cells
        12.4 Hydrogen generation from water photoelectrolysis
        12.5 Materials for photoelectrode
        12.6 Atomic layer deposition technique: process and equipment
        12.7 Final remarks
        Acknowledgments
        References
Section IV: Sustainable Materials for Thermal Energy Systems
    Chapter 13. Solar selective coatings and materials for high-temperature solar thermal applications
        Abstract
        13.1 Introduction
        13.2 CSP efficiency considerations: the concept of solar selectivity
        13.3 State-of-the-art review of solar absorber surfaces and materials for high-temperature applications (> 565°C in air)
        13.4 Current trends and issues
        13.5 Roadmap for concentrated solar power absorbing surfaces and materials
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 14. Applications of wastes based on inorganic salts as low-cost thermal energy storage materials
        Abstract
        14.1 Introduction
        14.2 Thermal energy storage
        14.3 Overview of industrial waste studied as thermal energy storage materials
        14.4 Inorganic salt-based products and wastes as low-cost materials for sustainable thermal energy storage
        14.5 Challenges for the application of waste and by-products in thermal energy storage systems
        14.6 Conclusion
        References
    Chapter 15. Nanoencapsulated phase change materials for solar thermal energy storage
        Abstract
        15.1 Introduction
        15.2 Brief review of the work done
        15.3 Results and discussion
        15.4 Applications
        15.5 Challenges ahead
        15.6 Conclusions
        Acknowledgments
        References
        Further reading
Section V: Sustainable Carbon-Based and Biomaterials for Solar Energy Applications
    Chapter 16. Carbon nanodot integrated solar energy devices
        Abstract
        16.1 Introduction
        16.2 Carbon nanodot integrated solar energy devices
        16.3 Summary and future aspects
        Acknowledgments
        References
    Chapter 17. Solar cell based on carbon and graphene nanomaterials
        Abstract
        17.1 Introduction
        17.2 Carbon and its derivatives
        17.3 Solar cells based on carbon nanomaterials
        17.4 Challenges and prospects
        References
    Chapter 18. Sustainable biomaterials for solar energy technologies
        Abstract
        18.1 Introduction
        18.2 Structural properties of biomaterials
        18.3 Biomaterials used in biophotovoltaics
        References
    Chapter 19. Bioinspired solar cells: contribution of biology to light harvesting systems
        Abstract
        19.1 Introduction
        19.2 Methodologies for engineered biomimicry
        19.3 Bioinspired solar cells
        19.4 Bioinspired structures and organisms
        19.5 Biological processes for bioinspiration
        19.6 Physics in biological systems
        19.7 Structures
        19.8 Conclusions
        References
Index