Materiais ferroelétricos fotovoltaicos

Abstract

In this work, the characteristics of semiconductor and ferroelectric materials are analyzed. in order to explore the functioning of photovoltaic cells made with one or other material and compare them. The main objective of this study is to highlight the advantages of the use of ferroelectric materials for this application. Start with an introduction on intrinsic semiconductors, with an in-depth description of band theory and the gap energy. Extrinsic semiconductors are presented, exploring the process of doping and the influence of the emergence of acceptor and donor levels in the bandgap. is discussed, also the p-n junction, a semiconductor device whose operation is the basis for the understanding of a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic effect is also discussed and, finally, All the concepts mentioned above are used to detail the operation of a photovoltaic cell based on a semiconductor. Subsequently, materials are introduced ferroelectrics, discussing the structural characteristics that govern their properties. Are analyzed together the domain structure and the ferroelectric hysteresis curve, evaluating its influence on the emergence of the depolarization field, which eliminates the need to apply an external voltage so that the photovoltaic cell can generate a current electricity, as in semiconductors. The operation of a photovoltaic cell based on a ferroelectric material, comparing it with the previous cell. Finally, the overview of the current market is analyzed, with a description brief of commercial solar cell modules based on classical semiconductors, evaluating production and energy efficiency. Therefore, characteristics that can be be manipulated in ferroelectric materials in order to improve the photovoltaic response and the energy efficiency of these materials.