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In this work the use of porcelain stoneware tiles as alternative substrates for CIGS thin film solar cells for the development of specific applications as those related to building integration (BIPV, BAPV) are reported. Two types of porcelain stoneware have been compared: the conventional tile (STD) and the ecological tile (ECO). The ECO ceramic paste formulation has been designed adding industrial wastes (recycled glass, sludges and chamote). Chemical, technological and functional properties of the paste have been performed. The CIGS absorber has been synthesized by an easy and low-cost way of preparation using co-precipitation method. The solar cell device has been completed and fully characterized. The achieved results indicate better performances for ECO paste compared to the STD, stated in improved mechanical resistance, thickness and morphology. It is demonstrated that both tiles are suitable for solar cell applications, but ECO substrate developed higher energy conversion efficiency of 1.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) is a p-type semiconductor material and an attractive absorber for thin films solar cells due to its unique optical and electrical properties. The low cost of this technology is based on its application on ecological substrates (glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic materials), effective uses of raw materials and lower thickness of the film (range from 1.5 to 3 µm). In this work, a new glass-ceramic substrate has been developed using industrial wastes materials (recycled glass, bottom ash and fly ash from a thermal power plant) used as support in thin film solar cell technology. The CIGS absorber has been synthesized by an easy and low-cost way of preparation using the co-precipitation method. The solar cell device has been completed and fully characterized. The obtained films were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrical characterization. The short circuit current (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and total area power conversion efficiency (η) of the device are 8,11 mA/cm 2 , 168,2 mV, 27,6% and 0,4% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcogenide-based solar cells Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 were developed using an in-situ sol-gel method and spin coating thin film deposition. The influence of chemical composition and thermal treatment were studied in detail. It was revealed that these variables are related to band gap changes and final device performance. Increasing in band gap experimental values (1.18 - 1.67 eV) was observed, due to the formation of solid solution of Ga (III) and S (-II) incorporation in the crystal lattice. Optimal device performance of 3,1 % efficiency of solar energy conversion was achieved for the Cu(In1-xGax)(S,Se)2 solid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray pyrolysis is a promising method for producing thin, transparent films on glass substrates. ZnO thin films synthesized by this method exhibit high crystallinity, adhesion and chemical resistance. They also possess the ability to degrade water pollutants and exhibit antibacterial properties under UV light. The crystalline structure of these films has been studied using grazing X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used to investigate their composition and purity. Other techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy were also employed. ICP-OES was used to evaluate photocatalyst leaching. These transparent thin films have exceptional optical properties, with a transmittance of 95%. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) by ZnO thin films showed a degradation rate of 94% in 270 min with a kinetic constant value of 3.1 × 10−3 mM/min. The films are also highly durable and reusable, exhibiting superior performance compared to other ZnO photocatalysts. The bactericidal activity of these transparent films was also evaluated, with a value of 60.6% being obtained using Escherichia coli after irradiating the films with UV light for 3 h. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of transparent TiO 2 thin films functionalised with silver NPs for photocatalytic and antimicrobial surfaces. • The synthesis methodologies used, such as spray pyrolysis and pulsed laser ablation (PLAL), have a wide industrial application. • The addition of silver NPs on the TiO 2 surface improves the photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties. • Photocatalytic tests confirm that these thin films could be used to degrade pollutants such as Rhodamine B by UV light. Transparent TiO 2 thin films coated with Ag NPs were synthesized using two industrially applicable techniques,pulsed laser ablation (PLAL) and spray pyrolysis without using high vacuum. These transparent thin films were deposited on glass in order to generate glass materials with photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties and a minimum loss of transparency. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the thin films were examined using Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to identify the NPs on the TiO 2 surface. The transmittance value for the thin films was greater than 80%.The thin films thus synthesized were then assessed to determine their photocatalytic capacity by monitoring the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation. Ag NPs on the TiO 2 surface ensures an improvement in the photocatalytic properties, with a 99% degradation of RhB in 210 min under UV light. In addition, these transparent thin films showed high antimicrobial activity on Gram-negative bacteria when irradiated by UV light for 4 h, killing 93% of these bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic photovoltaic tile based on Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 semiconductor has been made by low-cost and easy processing method of preparation. Ceramic tile as alternative of soda-lime glass substrate has been used. The molybdenum thin film was integrated into the ceramic enamel as a back contact. The CZTSSe absorber was synthesized by non-vacuum processing using oxide precipitation route. CdS and i-ZnO/ITO were deposited in order to complete a prototype of photovoltaic ceramic tile based on CZTSSe absorber. The photovoltaic ceramic device with preliminary conversion efficiency of 2% has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]