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Title: Electronic and optical properties of ultra-thin 2D tungsten disulfide for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

Atomically thin 2D layered semiconductor materials such as Transition Metal Di-Chalcogenides (TMDCs) have great potential for use as flexible, ultra-thin photovoltaic materials in solar cells due to their favorable photon absorption and electronic transport properties. The electronic properties, such as band structure and bandgap, and optical absorption properties of Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) were obtained from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations; the properties of WS2 make it a favorable photovoltaic material. Using these properties, we have modelled, using numerical calculations and simulations, a solar cell based on monolayer and bulk WS2 together with amorphous silicon (a-Si). The maximum efficiency of this cell is 23.26% with VOC of 0.843 V and JSC of 33.49 mA/cm2. The performance of our solar cell is comparable to many commercial cells. The results show how monolayer WS2 can serve as a suitable photovoltaic material, opening possibilities to develop solar cells based on 2D TMDC materials.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States). School of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1579811
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1549311
Grant/Contract Number:  
EE0004946
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 174; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0927-0248
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Roy, Sayan, and Bermel, Peter. Electronic and optical properties of ultra-thin 2D tungsten disulfide for photovoltaic applications. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2017.09.011.
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Roy, Sayan, & Bermel, Peter. Electronic and optical properties of ultra-thin 2D tungsten disulfide for photovoltaic applications. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2017.09.011
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Roy, Sayan, and Bermel, Peter. Tue . "Electronic and optical properties of ultra-thin 2D tungsten disulfide for photovoltaic applications". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2017.09.011. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1579811.
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@article{osti_1579811,
title = {Electronic and optical properties of ultra-thin 2D tungsten disulfide for photovoltaic applications},
author = {Roy, Sayan and Bermel, Peter},
abstractNote = {Atomically thin 2D layered semiconductor materials such as Transition Metal Di-Chalcogenides (TMDCs) have great potential for use as flexible, ultra-thin photovoltaic materials in solar cells due to their favorable photon absorption and electronic transport properties. The electronic properties, such as band structure and bandgap, and optical absorption properties of Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) were obtained from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations; the properties of WS2 make it a favorable photovoltaic material. Using these properties, we have modelled, using numerical calculations and simulations, a solar cell based on monolayer and bulk WS2 together with amorphous silicon (a-Si). The maximum efficiency of this cell is 23.26% with VOC of 0.843 V and JSC of 33.49 mA/cm2. The performance of our solar cell is comparable to many commercial cells. The results show how monolayer WS2 can serve as a suitable photovoltaic material, opening possibilities to develop solar cells based on 2D TMDC materials.},
doi = {10.1016/j.solmat.2017.09.011},
journal = {Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells},
number = C,
volume = 174,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Preparation and Tribological Properties of WS2 Hexagonal Nanoplates and Nanoflowers
    journal, June 2019

    • Zhang, Xianghua; Wang, Jiangtao; Xu, Hongxiang
    • Nanomaterials, Vol. 9, Issue 6
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    Tuning the electronic, optical and structural properties of GaS/C2N van der Waals heterostructure for photovoltaic application: first-principle calculations
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    • Tsoeu, Seiso Emmanuel; Opoku, Francis; Govender, Penny Poomani
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    Preparation and Tribological Properties of WS2 Hexagonal Nanoplates and Nanoflowers
    journal, June 2019

    • Zhang, Xianghua; Wang, Jiangtao; Xu, Hongxiang
    • Nanomaterials, Vol. 9, Issue 6
    • DOI: 10.3390/nano9060840
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