Harnessing inorganic silica frameworks: hydrothermal synthesis of POSS nanocages for enhanced efficiency in silicon solar cells

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.

10.22059/ijmge.2025.396827.595268

Abstract

As global population growth and rising energy demands coincide with fossil fuel depletion and escalating environmental degradation, renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, have become critically important. Silicon solar cells, expected to dominate the market for the next two decades, represent a primary solution. In contrast to conventional approaches focused on modifying the internal structure of silicon solar cells, this study employs a surface modification strategy using a hybrid inorganic, organic nanocoating, based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), a nanocomposite featuring a silica (SiO2)-like inorganic cage core functionalized with organic amine groups. The silica-based POSS nanocomposite was synthesized via hydrothermal processing and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) spectroscopy confirmed the coating's high optical transparency. Adhesion to the silicon substrate, assessed via pull-off testing, was moderate. Crucially, performance evaluation using a solar simulator demonstrated a 9.32% enhancement in solar cell efficiency following application of the silica-derived coating. This inorganic-enhanced surface modification presents a viable route for improving existing solar cell technology and contributing to global pollution reduction efforts.

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References

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International Journal of Mining and Geo-Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 November 2025

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