NANOSOLARCELLS proposes to develop a sustainable system for increasing the efficiency of conventional photovoltaic solar cells by incorporating photonic down-conversion layers based on photoemissive nanostructured materials (carbons, polymers). The challenge is to integrate them in existing solar cells, optimizing the parameters of sustainability, effectiveness and performance in aggressive environments. The project will integrate these materials in electrodes of large dimensions to evaluate the performance in real conditions (outdoor illumination). The materials will be tested for durability in aggressive environmental conditions in African countries.
Recent scientific and technical progress
NANOSOLARCELLS project started its activities in May 2022. Until now, initiated tasks are moslty related to the synthesis and optimisation of photoemissive quantum dots (carbon-based and inorganic-based), and the preparation of polymer-embedded photoemissive nanostructures. Copolymers with intense photoluminescence emission in the red and green area of the visible spectrum and Carbon Dot Nanostructures with intense blue emission have been prepared. They have the advantage of being processable in monoliths and thin films, maintaining a high degree of optical transparency and having improved mechanical characteristics.
A patent has been registered by TUASI partner (A/00746 din 18.11.2022) about a nanocomposite based on carbon nanostructures and cyclic-olefin copolymers with intense photoluminescent emission in the 445 – 467 nm range with high transparency in the optical/UV range and processability. The photoemissive nanocomposite can be deposited by spray or spin coating techniques in thin layers, thus obtaining photonic conversion mediums applicable in the field of optoelectronic devices.
Preliminary computational studies carried out by UDES partners to identify most adequate photovoltaic devices to apply the photoemisive layers have pointed out to thin film technologies of amorphous silicon and emerging technologies such as dye sensitized cells and perovskite cells.
Further studies are ongoing to evaluate the prolonged exposure to environmental factors (intense solar radiation, humidity).
Normalized spectral response for solar cells upon wavelength.
Participation in events
The first results obtained in NANOSOLARCELLS project have been presented at several national and international scientific conferences: Carbon International Conference, London (July 2022); LEAP-Re Stakeholders Forum, Pretoria (October 2022, remote); French Carbon Society meeting, Guadaloupe (May 2023); Int. Conf. Advanced Materials for Photonics, Sensing & Energy Applications, Marrakech (May 2023).
UDES and TUIASI partners have performed onsite meetings to visit their corresponding facilities for the project, sharing their know-how in the field of polymer chemistry (2022, 2023).
The first presential consortium meeting will be held in Romania in 27-28th July 2023.
Images of the visits of partners TUIASI and UDES to their facilities (visits in 2022, 2023).
Clustering work
Networking Activities have been initiated with project INFINITECELL through meetings and visits to the facilities of some of the involved partners to exchange about common interest on photovoltaics. “International cooperation for the development of cost-efficient kesterite/c-Si thin film next generation tandem solar cells”. H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017-777968.
Joint Supervisions
CNRS and TUIASI partners have collaborated in the joint supervision of a master student at University of Orléans (July 2022) on the Synthesis and characterization of photoluminescent carbon nanodots from biomass waste.
Guido PERRIN has initiated his PhD studies at University of Orléans (France) in May 2022 (Doctoral School EMTSU) under the joint supervision of CNRS and UDES partners. The goals of his PhD are: (i) to prepare carbon-based materials (e.g., carbon dots and derivatives) with varied photoluminescence properties as photonic conversion layers; (ii) to test their integration in solar cells.
Noumane ELOUAKASSI has initiated his PhD studies under the joint supervision of partners UCA and TUIASI partners.
