Large scale, flexible and three-dimensional quasi-ordered aluminum nanospikes for thin film photovoltaics with omnidirectional light trapping and optimized electrical design

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 3611-3616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siu-Fung Leung ◽  
Kwong-Hoi Tsui ◽  
Qingfeng Lin ◽  
Hongtao Huang ◽  
Linfeng Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Flexible Substrate ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Thin Film Photovoltaics

Optimized nanospiked solar cell achieved efficiency of 7.92 % which is among the highest on a flexible substrate.

Nano-scale Investigation of Light Scattering at Randomly Textured Light Trapping Structures for Thin-film Silicon Solar Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karsten Bittkau ◽  
Thomas Beckers ◽  
Carsten Rockstuhl ◽  
Stephan Fahr ◽  
Falk Lederer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Silicon Layer ◽  
Theoretical Data ◽  
Nano Scale

AbstractWe report on nano-scale optical effects of amorphous silicon layer conformally deposited on randomly textured zinc oxide layers on glass substrates investigated by near-field scanning microscopy. Such textured layers are used in thin-film photovoltaic devices to enhance light trapping. Experimental results are compared to theoretical data, obtained from large scale finite-difference time-domain simulations. Light localization on the surface of the textured interface and a focusing of light by the structure further away are observed. The measurements are compared with simulations, which provide additional insight into the light intensity distribution inside the solar cell on a nm-scale. It will be shown how this information can be used to optimize light trapping in thin-film solar cells using an amorphous silicon solar cell as an example.

scholarly journals Combined front and back diffraction gratings for broad band light trapping in thin film solar cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (S5) ◽  
pp. A560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianqin Meng ◽  
Emmanuel Drouard ◽  
Guillaume Gomard ◽  
Romain Peretti ◽  
Alain Fave ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cell ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Diffraction Gratings

Improved light trapping effect for thin-film silicon solar cells fabricated on double-textured white glass substrate

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 920-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidetoshi Wada ◽  
Keiichi Nishikubo ◽  
Porponth Sichanugrist ◽  
Makoto Konagai
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Chemical ◽  
Trapping Effect ◽  
Thin Film Silicon ◽  
Vapor Deposition Technique

Light trapping effect using rough surface transparent conductive oxide (TCO) is one of the best ways to achieve high efficiency thin-film silicon solar cells. Several types of rough ZnO film fabricated by metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique onto the glass, which are etched by reactive ion etching, have been proposed so far as promising TCO substrates. In this paper, newly developed ZnO substrate with extremely high light scattering property comparing with typical pyramidal texture one was developed. By applying this newly developed ZnO substrate to the solar cell, higher short circuit current of about 2% has been achieved comparing with typical pyramidal texture one without sacrificing other parameters. This result showed that the newly developed substrate is suitable as a front TCO substrate for high performance thin-film silicon solar cell.

scholarly journals Removal Mechanism and Defect Characterization for Glass-Side Laser Scribing of CdTe/CdS Multilayer in Solar Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongliang Wang ◽  
Y. Lawrence Yao ◽  
Hongqiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Removal Mechanism ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Numerical Work ◽  
Solar Module ◽  
Laser Scribing

Laser scribing is an important manufacturing process used to reduce photocurrent and resistance losses and increase solar cell efficiency through the formation of serial interconnections in large-area solar cells. High-quality scribing is crucial since the main impediment to large-scale adoption of solar power is its high-production cost (price-per-watt) compared to competing energy sources such as wind and fossil fuels. In recent years, the use of glass-side laser scribing processes has led to increased scribe quality and solar cell efficiencies; however, defects introduced during the process such as thermal effect, microcracks, film delamination, and removal uncleanliness keep the modules from reaching their theoretical efficiencies. Moreover, limited numerical work has been performed in predicting thin-film laser removal processes. In this study, a nanosecond (ns) laser with a wavelength at 532 nm is employed for pattern 2 (P2) scribing on CdTe (cadmium telluride) based thin-film solar cells. The film removal mechanism and defects caused by laser-induced micro-explosion process are studied. The relationship between those defects, removal geometry, laser fluences, and scribing speeds are also investigated. Thermal and mechanical numerical models are developed to analyze the laser-induced spatiotemporal temperature and pressure responsible for film removal. The simulation can well-predict the film removal geometries, transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layer thermal damage, generation of microcracks, film delamination, and residual materials. The characterization of removal qualities will enable the process optimization and design required to enhance solar module efficiency.

Modeling of Advanced Light Trapping Approaches in Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miro Zeman ◽  
Olindo Isabella ◽  
Klaus Jäger ◽  
Pavel Babal ◽  
Serge Solntsev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
Thin Film Silicon ◽  
Negative Effect

ABSTRACTDue to the increasing complexity of thin-film silicon solar cells, the role of computer modeling for analyzing and designing these devices becomes increasingly important. The ASA program was used to study two of these advanced devices. The simulations of an amorphous silicon solar cell with silver nanoparticles embedded in a zinc oxide back reflector demonstrated the negative effect of the parasitic absorption in the particles. When using optical properties of perfectly spherical particles a modest enhancement in the external quantum efficiency was found. The simulations of a tandem micromorph solar cell, in which a zinc oxide based photonic crystal-like multilayer was incorporated as an intermediate reflector (IR), demonstrated that the IR resulted in an enhanced photocurrent in the top cell and could be used to optimize the current matching of the top and bottom cell.

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