What is a second generation solar cell?

2. Second-generation (II GEN): In this generation the developments of first generation solar PV cell technologies along with the developments of “microcrystalline-silicon (µc-Si) and amorphous-silicon (a-Si) thin films solar cells, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS)” solar cells are covered.

Can zirconia be used as an electrolyte in SOFC?

It has been reported that among various electrolyte materials, zirconia-based electrolytes have the potential to be utilized as the electrolyte in SOFC because of their high thermal stability, non-reducing nature, and high mechanical strength, along with acceptable oxygen ion conductivity.

Can zirconia be used as a solid oxide electrolyte?

As a result, the cubic phase of zirconia should be stabilized to use as a solid oxide electrolyte. In the cubic fluorite structure, cations form the face-centered cubic sub lattice, while the oxygen ions occupy all the tetrahedral sites. The octahedral sites remain unoccupied which provide an easy pathway for oxygen-ion conduction.

What materials are used in solar PV?

Unlike the wind power and EV sectors, the solar PV industry isn’t reliant on rare earth materials. Instead, solar cells use a range of minor metals including silicon, indium, gallium, selenium, cadmium, and tellurium.

What materials are used in solar cells?

PV cells contain semiconductor materials that absorb light and transfer it to electrons that form an electric current. Silicon is still the dominant semiconductor metal used in solar cells, accounting for more than 90% of the market.

What happens when zirconia is cooled to 500 °C?

When these electrolytes are cooled to 500–700 °C, the cubic zirconia phase converts into a rhombohedral phase with ordered oxygen vacancies, which has a conductivity at least an order of extent lower than the cubic phase (Arachi et al. 1999).