Solar tracking

Traditionally, isolated and non-isolated boost converters are used for solar photovoltaic systems (SPV). These converters have limitations such as low voltage gain, less voltage ripples, temperature dependence, high voltage stress across the switches, and being bulky in size. Besides, the solar PV system also has non-linear characteristics between I-V and P-V, and the energy yield potential is affected by partial shading phenomena. Therefore, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is being added to the SPV system to get the maximum output power under steady and dynamic climate conditions...

The behavior of an illuminated solar module can be characterized by its power-voltage curve. Tracking the peak of this curve is essential to harvest the maximum power by the module. The position of the peak varies with temperature and irradiance and needs to be traced. Under partial shading conditions, the number of peaks increases and makes it more difficult to find the global maximum power point (MPP). Various methods are used for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) that are based on iterations. These methods are time-consuming and fail to work satisfactorily under rapidly changing environmental conditions...

While the 2D/3D heterojunction is an effective method to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), carriers are often confined in the quantum wells (QWs) due to the unique structure of 2D perovskite, which makes the charge transport along the out-of-plane direction difficult. Here, a 2D/3D ferroelectric heterojunction formed by 4,4-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride (2FPD) in inverted PSCs is reported. The enriched 2D perovskite (2FPD)2 PbI4 layer with n = 1 on the perovskite surface exhibits ferroelectric response and has oriented dipoles along the out-of-plane direction...

Solar energy is the most promising among many renewable energy sources to meet the increasing demand. Photovoltaic (PV) based power generating solutions are expected to gain popularity as a power source for different applications, including independent and grid connected loads, due to their cleanliness, high performance, and high dependability. The efficacy of photovoltaic systems is impacted by several elements, including geographical location, positioning, shadowing effects, and local climate conditions. In order to fulfil the demands of loads, an interleaved boost converter is utilized, which has a reduced number of filters with less stress on the devices...

Despite rapid advancements in the photovoltaic efficiencies of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their operational stability remains a significant challenge for commercialization. This instability mainly arises from light-induced halide ion migration and subsequent oxidation into iodine (I2 ). The situation is exacerbated when considering the heat effects at elevated temperatures, leading to the volatilization of I2 and resulting in irreversible device degradation. To the end, a thiol-contained reducing agent, mercaptoethylammonium iodide (ESAI), has been incorporated into the perovskite film...

Tracking the dynamics of ultrafast hole injection into copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) at the interface can be experimentally challenging. These challenges include restrictions in accessing the ultraviolet spectral range through transient electronic spectroscopy, where the absorption spectrum of CuSCN is located. Time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy solves this problem by tracking marker modes at specific frequencies and allowing direct access to dynamical information at the molecular level at donor-acceptor interfaces in real time...

In this study, a novel wide-bandgap small molecule guest material, ITOA, designed and synthesized for fabricating efficient ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) ITOA complements the absorbance of the PM6:Y6 binary system, exhibiting strong crystallinity and modest miscibility. ITOA optimizes the morphology by promoting intensive molecular packing, reducing domain size, and establishing a preferred vertical phase distribution. These features contribute to improved and well-balanced charge transport, suppressed carrier recombination, and efficient exciton dissociation...

Insect monitoring is essential to design effective conservation strategies, which are indispensable to mitigate worldwide declines and biodiversity loss. For this purpose, traditional monitoring methods are widely established and can provide data with a high taxonomic resolution. However, processing of captured insect samples is often time-consuming and expensive, which limits the number of potential replicates. Automated monitoring methods can facilitate data collection at a higher spatiotemporal resolution with a comparatively lower effort and cost...

Holographic lenses (HLs) are part of holographic optical elements (HOE), and are being applied to concentrate solar energy on a focal point or focal line. In this way, the concentrated energy can be converted into electrical or thermal energy by means of a photovoltaic cell or a thermal absorber tube. HLs are able to passively track the apparent motion of the sun with a high acceptance angle, allowing tracking motors to be replaced, thus reducing the cost of support structures. This article focuses on a review of the materials used in the recording of a holographic lens (HL) or multiple HLs in photovoltaic and/or concentrating solar collectors...

Ion migration-induced intrinsic instability and large-area fabrication pose a tough challenge for the commercial deployment of perovskite photovoltaics. Herein, we develop an interface heterojunction and metal electrode stabilization strategy by suppressing ion migration via managing lead-based imperfections. After screening a series of cations and nonhalide anions, the ideal organic salt molecule dimethylammonium trifluoroacetate (DMATFA) consisting of dimethylammonium (DMA+ ) cation and trifluoroacetate (TFA- ) anion is selected to manipulate the surface of perovskite films...

Developing an additive to effectively regulate the perovskite crystallization kinetics for optimized optoelectronic properties of perovskite film plays a vital role in obtaining high efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a new additive is designed and directly synthesized in perovskite precursor solution by utilizing an addition reaction between but-3-yn-1-amine hydrochloride (BAH) and formamidinium iodide (FAI). It is found that its product may control the intermediate precursor phase for regulated perovskite nucleation, leading to advantageous 2D perovskite to induce growth of perovskite along the preferred [001] orientation with not only released lattice strain but also strong interaction with perovskite to passivate its surface defects...

All-perovskite tandem solar cells are attracting considerable interest in photovoltaics research, owing to their potential to surpass the theoretical efficiency limit of single-junction cells, in a cost-effective sustainable manner. Thanks to the bandgap-bowing effect, mixed tin-lead (Sn-Pb) perovskites possess a close to ideal narrow bandgap for constructing tandem cells, matched with wide-bandgap neat lead-based counterparts. The performance of all-perovskite tandems, however, has yet to reach its efficiency potential...

BACKGROUND: The International Space Station (ISS) stands as a testament to human achievement in space exploration. Despite its highly controlled environment, characterised by microgravity, increased CO <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msub><mml:mrow/> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:math> levels, and elevated solar radiation, microorganisms occupy a unique niche. These microbial inhabitants play a significant role in influencing the health and well-being of astronauts on board...

As an additive for perovskites, in addition to functional groups, the steric configuration of molecules is worthy of consideration because it influences perovskite crystallization, thus determining whether defect passivation is effective without any side effects. In this work, the chiral molecules l- and d-pyroglutamic acid (l-PA and d-PA) were chosen as additives for perovskite passivators to reveal the reasons for the differences in passivation between amino acids with different steric configurations. Functional groups, such as the C═O groups and N-H groups of l-PA and d-PA, can passivate the perovskite defects...

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is required to get the highest possible power generated from a photovoltaic (PV) cell. Numerous researchers have proposed different MPPT strategies to be able to collect maximum generated electricity from the photovoltaic cells. In this research paper, a MPPT model predictive control strategy for a grid-connected PV system is presented. Model predictive control (MPC) was used to develop and model the AC load energy tracking efficiency for the PV systems with a power rate of 20 kW at standard test conditions...

This study proposes a novel honey bee dancing (HBD) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of honey bees. When a bee finds nectar, it returns to the honeycomb and dances to inform others about the location of the nectar. Other bees then fly towards the location and gather the nectar. The proposed HBD algorithm uses five bees searching for the nectar who communicate with each other about the location and the quantity of nectar by dancing. Finally, the five bees found the location of the most nectar which is represented by the maximum power point...

The ubiquity and impact of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, as well as their residues in environmental compartments, particularly in water, have raised human and environmental health concerns. This emphasizes the need of developing sustainable methods for their removal. Solar-driven photocatalytic degradation has emerged as a promising approach for the chemical decontamination of water, sparking intensive scientific research in this field. Advancements in photocatalytic materials have driven the need for solar reactors that efficiently integrate photocatalysts for real-world water treatment...

Solar power is a renewable energy source, and its efficient development and utilization are important for achieving global carbon neutrality. However, partial shading conditions cause the output of PV systems to exhibit nonlinear and multipeak characteristics, resulting in a loss of output power. In this paper, we propose a novel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique for PV systems based on the Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm (DBO) to maximize the output power of PV systems under various weather conditions...

In this work, the operation of photovoltaic system, wind turbine driven doubly fed induction generator along with battery has been observed. Also, a searching space minimization-based artificial bee colony scheme is developed for tracking the maximum power in a doubly fed induction generator-based system. To track maximum power in solar systems, an improved adaptive reference voltage approach has been presented. Several conventional and optimization-based techniques are used by DFIG and photovoltaic systems to get around the non-linearity features in the output parameters...

Power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been improved by the use of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) hole transport layer. Long-term stability of PSCs requires keeping the SAM compact under the perovskite layer during operation. We found that strong polar solvents in the perovskite precursor desorb the SAM if it is anchored on substrates by hydrogen-bonded, rather than covalently bonded, hydroxyl groups. We used atomic-layer deposition to create an indium tin oxide substrate with a fully covalent hydroxyl-covered surface for SAM anchoring, as well as a SAM with a trimethoxysilane group that exhibited strong tridentate anchoring to the substrate...