Background: The photovoltaic energy industry is one of the fastest growing industries. The main goal of scientific research in the field of photovoltaics is to increase the efficiency of solar cells and

a decrease in the prices of their production, installation and operation. Progress is possible through the improvement of joints, contacts and geometric features of solar cells, methods of their surface treatment and the use of new engineering materials with unique properties. This is where nanomaterials come with help, the properties of which differ from their micro counterparts.

Objective: One of the research directions is the use of nano-thin films in silicon solar cells. To achieve the highest possible efficiency of photoelectric conversion, it is necessary to ensure the lowest possible loss of light reflection from the surface of the silicon substrate. This property is obtained by depositing antireflection coatings. The second direction of research concerns the use of nanoparticles and nanowires in dye sensitized solar cells, both in the photoanode and the counter electrode. The dye sensitized solar cells are characterized primarily by the simplicity of production and low sensitivity to temperature changes, and the materials used for their production are non-toxic. The use of nanocomposites has a positive effect on the LHE light absorption efficiency of a dye sensitized solar cell, increasing its efficiency.

Methods: The thin films have been deposited on silicon wafers substrates by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method on silicon substrate. On the other hand the sol-gel method was used to prepared the  nanoparticles. The sol-gel method does not require complicated devices and high financial costs, and the creation of nanomaterials does not require high temperature. The ZnO/NiO nanoparticles layers with a different percentage share of individual components deposited by screen printing on a glass substrate were developed. Current-voltage characteristics of monocrystalline solar cells were measured using a solar simulator SS150AAA model. The measurements were performed under standard conditions (Pin =1000 W/m², AM1.5G spectrum, T = 25 °  C).

Results: Even and continuous layers of low roughness were deposited by the ALD method. The light reflection was minimized below 5%. The difference in efficiency of silicon solar cells with and without an antireflection coating is equal 5.28%. In the case of dye sensitized solar cells, The best results were obtained for a solar cell containing a ZnO / NiO nanocomposite with 70/30 ratio and its

efficiency was 4.46%.

Conclusion: Basing on obtained results, we can conclude that thin films obtained with the ALD deposition method have good antireflection properties and could be applied in photovoltaic industry as an antireflection coating of silicon solar cells. And in the case of dye solar cells, we can effectively replace classic titanium oxide with other nanomaterials

Marek Szindler is employed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology (Gliwice, Poland) as an assistant professor. He conducts research in the field of Nanomaterials, photovoltaics, in particular silicon solar cells and dye sensitized solar cells. He specializes in the deposition of layers using vacuum methods (including ALD and PVD) and in the synthesis of nanoparticles by the sol gel method.

·         Category*: Oral presentation (Online)

·         Research Interest*: Nanomaterials, photovoltaics, silicon solar cells, dye sensitized solar cells