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Assessment of Al–Cu–Fe compound for enhanced solar absorption
Author(s) -
Alami Abdul Hai,
Alketbi Afra,
Abed Jehad,
Almheiri Meera
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3468
Subject(s) - materials science , mesoporous material , solar cell , absorption (acoustics) , ball mill , solar energy , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , metallurgy , optoelectronics , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , ecology , engineering , biology , catalysis
Summary This work evaluates the suitability of the Al 64 Cu 25 Fe 11 compound to enhance spectral solar absorption when replacing the mesoporous layer material of dye‐sensitized solar cells. The compound is produced by high‐energy ball milling, a mechanical alloying technique that ensures extensive inter‐diffusion of the elemental components, while heat treatment that ensues promotes the appearance and growth of an icosahedral phase that possesses attractive microstructural and optical properties. These properties, along with electrical ones of Al–Cu–Fe compound, are compared with those of titania, a prominent mesoporous material in solar cell construction in an attempt to replace the scarce and expensive titania. A full array of microstructural, thermal, electrical, and optical analysis of the mechanically alloyed compound is presented to investigate and support this goal. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.