Publications
The effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticle concentration on the performance of polycrystalline silicon solar cells
Sep 3, 2025Journal Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering and Architecture
Publisher Marwa Khaleel Rashid, Huda jumaah Mohammed, Hayder Mahmood Hameed, Mohammed Waleed Muayad, Adnan Mohammed Hussien, Afrah Turki Awad & Mohammed Alharbi
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.9.1.1-6
The performance of polycrystalline silicon solar cells is limited by light reflection, surface contamination, and thermal losses. This has led the industry to focus on researching, developing, and applying new nanocoatings to improve photovoltaic efficiency. This study examines the photovoltaic properties of polycrystalline silicon solar cells by depositing varying concentrations of Titanium dioxide (Tio₂) nanoparticles within a Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) matrix. The materials and methods involve preparing Tio₂/pmma nanocomposites by dispersing Tio₂ nanoparticles into acetone with a colemanite suspension in a PMMA solution. The nanocomposite suspensions are then applied to the surface of the solar cells and allowed to dry. This research aims to evaluate how different Tio₂ loadings affect morphology, optical properties, and electrical performance to optimise efficiency across all Tio₂-based solar cells. SEM analysis confirmed the dispersion of Tio₂ nanoparticles within the PMMA matrix. Lower concentrations of Tio₂ exhibited higher light absorption, consistent with UV-Vis spectroscopy results. The most efficient solar cells containing Tio₂, with a 0.0125 g added layer, achieved an efficiency of 14.4%, attributed to improved light absorption and charge transport. Nonetheless, nanoparticles tend to agglomerate, and higher concentrations of Tio₂ resulted in decreased performance, as evidenced by reduced photocatalytic activity. Properly optimising the concentration of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is essential for enhancing the efficiency of solar cells.
On the Eddy Current Losses in Metallic Towers
Jan 9, 2020Journal International Journal of Renewable Energy Development
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.9.1.1-6
The existence of magnetic field around high-voltage overhead transmission lines or low-voltage distribution lines is a known fact and well-studied in the literature. However, the interaction of this magnetic field either with transmission or distribution towers has not been investigated. Noteworthy it is to remember that this field is time-varying with a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz depending on the country. In this paper, we studied for the first time the eddy currents in towers which are made of metals. As the geometrical structures of towers are extremely complex to model, we provide a simple approach based on principles of electromagnetism in order to verify the existence of power loss in the form of eddy currents. The frequency-domain finite difference method is adapted in the current study for simulating the proposed model. The importance of such a study is the addition of a new type of power loss to the power network due to the fact that some towers are made of relatively conductive materials.