The thin film generation of solar cells is a promising alternative to the market-dominating silicon wafer cells. Thin film cells have the potential for high mechanical flexibility, while having recorded efficiencies that rival that of traditional silicon cells. Hole Transport Layers (HTL) such as P3HT are available for flexible solar cells, but are limited by high cost. Our group aims to determine whether CuSCN, a cheaper HTL, can be utilized to create a flexible solar cell. We compared the power conversion efficiency and mechanical flexibility of cells with CuSCN HTLs with more expensive HTLs. Through this, we discovered that CuSCN can be used in a working flexible cell but achieves lower efficiency than P3HT and comparable tolerance to bending in thin film solar cells.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chen, Collin
• Leonard, Jeremiah
• Petersen, Reese Utz
• Bugarin, Jason Michael

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042618-102526

Advisor

• Onal, Cagdas
• Rao, Pratap M.

Year

• 2018

Date created

• 2018-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright