Issue 44, 2023

Advances in solar energy harvesting integrated by van der Waals graphene heterojunctions

Abstract

Graphene has garnered increasing attention for solar energy harvesting owing to its unique features. However, limitations hinder its widespread adoption in solar energy harvesting, comprising the band gapless in the molecular orbital of graphene lattice, its vulnerability to oxidation in oxidative environments, and specific toxic properties that require careful consideration during development. Beyond current challenges, researchers have explored doping graphene with ionic liquids to raise the lifespan of solar cells (SCs). Additionally, they have paid attention to optimizing graphene/Si Schottky junction or Schottky barrier SCs by enhancing the conductivity and work function of graphene, improving silicon's reflectivity, and addressing passivation issues at the surface/interface of graphene/Si, resulting in significant advancements in their power conversion efficiency. Increasing the functional area of graphene-based SCs and designing efficient grid electrodes are also crucial for enhancing carrier collection efficiency. Flaws and contaminants present at the interface between graphene and silicon pose significant challenges. Despite the progress of graphene/Si-based photovoltaic cells still needs to catch up to the efficiency achieved by commercially available Si p–n junction SCs. The low Schottky barrier height, design-related challenges associated with transfer techniques, and high lateral resistivity of graphene contribute to this performance gap. To maximize the effectiveness and robustness of graphene/Si-based photovoltaic cells, appropriate interlayers have been utilized to tune the interface and modulate graphene's functionality. This mini-review will address ongoing research and development endeavors using van der Waals graphene heterojunctions, aiming to overcome the existing limitations and unlock graphene's full potential in solar energy harvesting and smart storage systems.

Graphical abstract: Advances in solar energy harvesting integrated by van der Waals graphene heterojunctions

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
04 Sep 2023
Accepted
06 Okt 2023
First published
27 Okt 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2023,13, 31273-31291

Advances in solar energy harvesting integrated by van der Waals graphene heterojunctions

T. K. Le, T. Mai, M. A. Iqbal, D. Vernardou, V. Dao, V. K. Ponnusamy, C. S. Rout and P. V. Pham, RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 31273 DOI: 10.1039/D3RA06016K

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