Study of the coating influence into commercital fotovoltaic solar cell

• Grant number: 18/05854-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo José Nassar
• Grantee: Jéssica Potomatti Batista
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The sun is an endless source of clean energy and in order to convert solar energy to electric energy photovoltaic cell are used. This is based on the concept of the photovoltaic effect. Although it is an excellent font of energy, it can be used as an alternative for the production of the electric energy. As its efficiency is low when compared with other fonts of energy the main reason for the low efficiency of the solar cell is due to the small range of absorption of the wavelengths. In addition, the cells are more sensitive around 600 nm to 900 nm. In this project, the commercial solar cells are made by polycrystalline silicon and it will be coated from the sol-gel process with silicon alkoxide doped with lanthanide ions ER3+ and Yb3+. The process will promote upward conversion of energy in order to absorb infrared radiation and convert it in visible radiation. In this way, the energy can convert into visible light, preferably in red light. The photovoltaic cell will absorb the energy, increasing its efficiency. The characterization will be performed through a vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman), an electronic spectroscopy (UV-Vis and photoluminescence), a thermal analysis (TA), X-ray diffractometer (DRX) and a scanning electron microscopy (MEV). The electrical measurements will perform through a digital multimeter using a standard light source and a laser of 980 nm.