Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

1.6K
A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Bandgap Tunable Two-Step Vapor-Deposited Perovskite Absorbers for Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells.

ACS energy letters·2026
Same author

Energy, environment, and economy implications of electrifying minibus taxis in African cities.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Triple-junction solar cells with improved carrier and photon management.

Nature·2026
Same author

Unraveling bulk degradation mechanisms of wide-bandgap perovskite absorbers for tandem applications.

EES solar·2026
Same author

Enhancing the Performance and Photostability of Perovskite Solar Cells with a Multifunctional Light-Management Composite.

Small science·2025
Same author

Ultimate sensitivity in X-ray diffraction: angular moments versus shot noise.

Journal of applied crystallography·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Ambient Method for the Production of an Ionically Gated Carbon Nanotube Common Cathode in Tandem Organic Solar Cells
14:37

Ambient Method for the Production of an Ionically Gated Carbon Nanotube Common Cathode in Tandem Organic Solar Cells

Published on: November 5, 2014

9.1K

Self-patterned nanoparticle layers for vertical interconnects: application in tandem solar cells.

Bjoern Niesen1, Nicolas Blondiaux, Mathieu Boccard

  • 1Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Electronics Laboratory (PV-Lab), Institute of Microengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , Rue de la Maladière 71, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Nano Letters
|August 8, 2014
PubMed
Summary

We developed self-patterning insulating nanoparticle layers for electrical connections in thin-film electronics. This method improves silicon tandem solar cells by enabling charge transport and efficient light management.

Keywords:
Photovoltaicsdewettingmicromorphmultijunctionplanarizationself-assembly

More Related Videos

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells
09:32

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

7.9K
Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids
13:29

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Published on: August 23, 2012

13.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Ambient Method for the Production of an Ionically Gated Carbon Nanotube Common Cathode in Tandem Organic Solar Cells
14:37

Ambient Method for the Production of an Ionically Gated Carbon Nanotube Common Cathode in Tandem Organic Solar Cells

Published on: November 5, 2014

9.1K
Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells
09:32

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

7.9K
Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids
13:29

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Published on: August 23, 2012

13.7K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Renewable Energy

Background:

  • Thin-film electronic devices require efficient electrical interconnects.
  • Silicon tandem solar cells offer high efficiency but need optimized intermediate layers.
  • Nanoparticle layers present potential for novel device architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate self-patterned insulating nanoparticle layers for local electrical interconnects.
  • To integrate these layers into thin-film silicon tandem solar cells.
  • To evaluate the optical and electrical properties of the nanoparticle layer.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of solution-processed silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticle layers.
  • Integration of SiO2 nanoparticle layers between component cells in tandem solar cells.
  • Characterization of local electrical interconnect formation and optical properties.

Main Results:

  • Successfully demonstrated self-patterned insulating SiO2 nanoparticle layers.
  • Achieved local openings in the nanoparticle layer for charge transport.
  • The SiO2 layer exhibited low refractive index, high transparency, and a smooth surface.
  • The layer functioned as an effective intermediate reflector for enhanced light management.

Conclusions:

  • Self-patterned insulating nanoparticle layers are a viable method for creating local electrical interconnects.
  • The developed SiO2 nanoparticle layer enhances thin-film silicon tandem solar cell performance through improved light management and charge transport.
  • This approach offers a promising route for advanced thin-film electronic device fabrication.