Greenhouses are inflated structures with transparent covering that are used to grow crops under controlled climatic conditions. Crops are protected from extreme climate-related events by being enclosed. Furthermore, the greenhouse design ratio impacts the temperature and humidity distribution profile uniformity as well as the greenhouse. As a result, by effectively designing the greenhouse structure, building materials, dimensions, and shapes, the cost of cooling management strategies can be reduced. Structures with changed arch shapes showed to be more effective at reducing greenhouse cooling demands in hot areas. To demonstrate the tropical region’s inherent capabilities for generating a proper atmosphere for plant development, the optimal temperature, humidity, light, and PH for greenhouse production of crops were supplied. Greenhouse cooling systems are dominated by local environmental characteristics that have an immediate impact on their indoor climatic conditions. Photovoltaic systems in greenhouses have proven technological capacity in real-world settings in this area. This could increase the energy efficiency of some agrivoltaic greenhouse design options.

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is one of the leading photovoltaic technologies with a market share of around 5%. However, there still exist challenges to fabricate a rear contact for efficient transport of photogenerated holes. Here, etching effects of various iodine compounds including elemental iodine (I2), ammonium iodide (NH4I), mixture of elemental iodine and NH4I (I−/I3− etching), and formamidinium iodide were investigated. The treated CdTe surfaces were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The CdTe devices were completed with or without treatments and tested under simulated AM1.5G solar spectrum to find photoconversion efficiency (PCE). Based on Raman spectra, XRD patterns, and surface morphology, it was shown that treatment with iodine compounds produced Te-rich surface on CdTe films, and temperature-dependent current–voltage characteristics showed reduced back barrier heights, which are essential for the formation of ohmic contact and reduce contact resistance. Based on current–voltage characteristics, the treatment enhanced open-circuit voltage (VOC) up to 841 mV, fill factor (FF) up to 78.2%, and PCE up to 14.0% compared with standard untreated CdTe devices (VOC ∼ 814 mV, FF ∼ 74%, and PCE ∼ 12.7%) with copper/gold back contact.

Photovoltaics made from organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite semiconductors are attracting significant interest due to their ability to harvest sunlight with remarkable efficiency. The presence of lead in the best performing devices raises concerns regarding their toxicity, a problem that may create barriers to commercialization. Hybrid perovskites with reduced lead content are being investigated to overcome this issue and here we evaluate bismuth as a possible lead substitute. For a series of hybrid perovskite films with the general composition CH3NH3(Pb y Bi1−y )I3−x Cl x , we characterize their optical and structural properties using UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering. We show that they form crystalline structures with an optical band gap, around 2 eV for CH3NH3BiI3. However, preliminary solar cell tests show low power conversion efficiencies (<0.01%) due to both incomplete precursor conversion and material de-wetting from the substrate. The overall outcome is severely limited photocurrent. With current processing methods the general applicability of hybrid bismuth perovskites in photovoltaics may be limited.

CuInS2 thin films with thickness ranging from 196 to 1000 nm were prepared from a source containing CuInS2 nanocrystals by using thermal evaporation method. Annealed films of CuInS2 show the quasi-amorphous to crystalline phase transition, probed through x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectrometer, and Raman spectroscopy. From XRD, the tetragonal distortion (η) is found to be ≈1, confirming the arrangement of an extended double lattice structure of chalcopyrite phase. The surface morphology of quasi-amorphous film exhibits a very smooth surface, whereas crystalline film shows a very rough surface of CuInS2 as observed from atomic force microscopy. Crystallite size and rms roughness increase from 23 to 310 nm and from 1.5 to 36.5, respectively, with increasing film thickness as well as with increasing annealing temperature due to the crystallization process. Micro-Raman study evidencing the presence of a strong Raman A1 mode at 303 cm−1, due to the symmetric vibration of anion sublattice of CuInS2 structure. A fundamental band edge is observed in as-deposited quasi-amorphous CuInS2 films, while bulk energy band absorption and excitonic band transition are observed in crystalline films. A sharp drop in both reflectance and transmittance near the energy band gap region is observed in thick films due to a very strong absorption of crystalline phase of CuInS2.

The paper argues that solar photovoltaic or wind systems would need to be implemented at a rate of hundreds of gigawatts each year to obviate the continuing worldwide growth of fossil-fueled electricity generation. It suggests that an electricity consumption tax could constitute a sustainable mechanism for funding such an endeavor.

It is observed that the atmospheric content of carbon dioxide rose by approximately 16 Gt in 2012. A non-negligible contribution to this increase must surely have come from the 35 Gt of CO2 emitted by fossil fuel consumption that year, of which 11 Gt came from fossil-fueled electricity generation (FFEG). Yet, new FFEG plants continue to be built. Although it is questionable whether economic forces would permit a halt to the construction of such plants, it is argued that, from the perspectives of technology, manufacturing capability, land availability, and cost, it could be feasible to use solar photovoltaic and wind plants to provide for the annual increase in the worldwide need for electricity. However, the required capital expenditure cost of approximately US$ 0.5 trillion per year might be difficult to raise by conventional methods for funding renewable energy plants. A number of alternative funding mechanisms are examined. Among them, an electricity consumption tax is found to be capable of providing an assured amount of regular funding on this scale. In North America and Europe, such a tax would add approximately 1 US¢/kWh to present electricity tariffs. In other regions, it would amount to an addition of 2–5 US¢/kWh.

Nanostructured phase-separated blends, or bulk heterojunctions, of conjugated polymers and fullerene derivatives form a very attractive approach to large-area, solid-state organic solar cells. The key feature of these cells is that they combine easy processing from solution on a variety of substrates with good performance. Efficiencies of up to 5% in solar light have been achieved, and lifetimes are increasing to thousands of hours. Further improvements can be expected and some of the promising strategies towards that goal are presented in this article.

Harvesting energy directly from sunlight using photovoltaic technology is a way to address growing global energy needs with a renewable resource while minimizing detrimental effects on the environment by reducing atmospheric emissions. This issue of MRS Bulletin on “Organic-Based Photovoltaics” looks at a new generation of solar cells that have the potential to be produced inexpensively. Recent advances in solar power conversion efficiencies have propelled organic-based photovoltaics out of the realm of strictly fundamental research at the university level and into the industrial laboratory setting. Fabricated from organic materials—polymers and molecules—these devices are potentially easier to manufacture than current technologies based on silicon or other materials. In this introductory article, we describe the motivation for pursuing research in this field and provide an overview of the various technical approaches that have been developed to date.We conclude by discussing the challenges that need to be overcome in order for organic photovoltaics to realize their potential as an economically viable path to harvesting energy from sunlight.

This review of photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) based on inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) deals with the mechanisms of operation and the various factors that influence the overall efficiency of PECs. The factors addressed include ICP composition and oxidation state, the use of nanostructured surfaces and interfaces, and the PEC electrolyte and redox mediator.

Recent results have demonstrated that hybrid photovoltaic cells based on a blend of inorganic nanocrystals and polymers possess significant potential for low-cost, scalable solar power conversion. Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, like polymers, are solution processable and chemically synthesized, but possess the advantageous properties of inorganic semiconductors such as a broad spectral absorption range and high carrier mobilities. Significant advances in hybrid solar cells have followed the development of elongated nanocrystal rods and branched nanocrystals, which enable more effective charge transport. The incorporation of these larger nanostructures into polymers has required optimization of blend morphology using solvent mixtures. Future advances will rely on new nanocrystals, such as cadmium telluride tetrapods, that have the potential to enhance light absorption and further improve charge transport. Gains can also be made by incorporating application-specific organic components, including electroactive surfactants which control the physical and electronic interactions between nanocrystals and polymer.

This article serves to introduce the January 2004 issue of MRS Bulletin on progress toward applications of ceramic nanostructures. Conventional ceramic materials are widely used today in areas ranging from structural to biological applications, and in devices as diverse as lasers, semiconductors, sensors, and piezoelectric components. Such materials include oxides, carbides, nitrides, mixed oxides, and composites.Over the last decade, the use of ceramic nanostructures has already changed the approach to materials design in many of these applications, by seeking structural control at the atomic level and tailoring of the engineering properties. The articles in this issue review the advantages of nanoceramics, their application in various fields, and the challenges involved in their fabrication.

Growth and properties of indium sulfide layers (< 300 nm) prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been studied. Growth rate of about 0.6 A per cycle has been measured for films deposited at 160°C from indium acetylacetonate and hydrogen sulfide precursors. The films are crystalline with the β modification. They possess high band gap values (2.7-2.8 eV) which are related to small grain sizes (3-4 nm) through quantum size effects. Electrical properties have been addressed using the semiconductor electrolyte junction. They are n type with a doping level around 1016 cm−3 and possess a good blocking behavior under reverse bias. The flat band potential is close to -1 V vs MSE. These figures are close to those measured under similar conditions with CdS CBD buffer layers and could explain the good cell performances obtained with ALD In2S3.