Demonstration of enhanced absorption in thin film Si solar cells with textured photonic crystal back reflector

2008 ◽  
Vol 93 (22) ◽  
pp. 221105 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zeng ◽  
P. Bermel ◽  
Y. Yi ◽  
B. A. Alamariu ◽  
K. A. Broderick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Enhanced Absorption ◽  
Si Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Enhanced Absorption in Thin Film Si Solar Cells with Textured Photonic Back Reflector

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Broderick ◽  
L. Zeng ◽  
B. A. Alamariu ◽  
X. Duan ◽  
Z. Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Enhanced Absorption ◽  
Si Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Fabrication of Photonic Crystal based Back Reflectors for Light Management and Enhanced Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Curtin ◽  
Rana Biswas ◽  
Vikram Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Steel Substrate ◽  
Back Surface ◽  
Enhanced Absorption ◽  
Reference Device ◽  
Back Reflectors ◽  
Light Management ◽  
Back Reflector ◽  
Microscopy Images

AbstractPhotonic crystal based back-reflectors are an attractive solution for light management and enhancing optical absorption in thin film solar cells, without undesirable losses. We have fabricated prototype photonic crystal back-reflectors using photolithographic methods and reactive-ion etching. The photonic crystal back-reflector has a triangular lattice symmetry, a thickness of 250 nm, and a pitch of 765 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrate high quality long range periodicity. An a-Si:H solar cell device was grown on this back-reflector using standard PECVD techniques. Measurements demonstrate strong diffraction of light and high diffuse reflectance by the photonic crystal back-reflector. The photonic crystal back-reflector increases the average photon collection by ˜9% in terms of normalized external quantum efficiency, relative to a reference device on a stainless steel substrate with an Ag coated back surface.

Effects of One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal on Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 827 ◽  
pp. 49-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Hai Na Mo ◽  
Zi Qiao Lou ◽  
Ke Meng Yang ◽  
Yue Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Refractive Index ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Si Solar Cells ◽  
Refractive Index Difference

We have designed lateral contact thin film silicon-based solar cells with and without one-dimensional photonic crystals as back surface field layer. The photonic crystal comprises a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) for trapping the light. Simulations demonstrate that energy conversion efficiency and short circuit current ISCfor c-Si solar cells with the photonic crystal structure are increased to 21.11% and 27.0 mA, respectively, from 18.33% and 22.8mA of the one without photonic crystal. In addition, the effects of DBRs consisting of different materials are investigated in our simulations. When the refractive index difference between sub-layers of the DBR is larger, the forbidden band width is broader, the reflectance of the DBR is higher, and more photons are reflected and trapped into the active region, then the absorption efficiency and the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell are both increased. The bigger the refractive index difference of the DBRs sub-layers is, the broader the forbidden band width is. In addition, a-Si solar cells with and without DBR are also discussed.

Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector

2006 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 111111 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zeng ◽  
Y. Yi ◽  
C. Hong ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
N. Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Efficiency Enhancement ◽  
Si Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Photonic Crystal Back Reflectors for Enhanced Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Curtin ◽  
Rana Biswas ◽  
Vikram Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Light Absorption ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Etch Depth ◽  
Enhanced Absorption ◽  
Back Reflectors ◽  
Back Reflector

AbstractPhotonic crystal back reflectors offer enhanced optical absorption in thin-film solar cells, without undesirable losses. Rigorous simulations of photonic crystal back reflectors predicted maximized light absorption in amorphous silicon solar cells for a pitch of 700-800 nm. Simulations also predict that for typical 250 nm i-layer cells, the periodic photonic crystal back reflector can improve absorption over the ideal randomly roughened back reflector (or the ‘4n2classical limit') at wavelengths near the band edge. The PC back reflector provides even higher enhancement than roughened back reflectors for cells with even thinner i-layers. Using these simulated designs, we fabricated metallic photonic crystal back reflectors with different etch depths and i-layer thicknesses. The photonic crystals had a pitch of 760 nm and triangular lattice symmetry. The average light absorption increased with the PC back reflectors, but the greatest improvement (7-8%) in short circuit current was found for thinner i-layers. We have studied the dependence of cell performance on the etch depth of the photonic crystal. The photonic crystal back reflector strongly diffracts light and increases optical path lengths of solar photons.

Novel approaches of light management in thin-film silicon solar cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janez Krc ◽  
M. Zeman ◽  
A. Campa ◽  
F. Smole ◽  
M. Topic
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Wavelength Region ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
Back Reflector ◽  
High Reflectance

AbstractIn order to improve light trapping in thin-film silicon solar cells two novel approaches are investigated in this article: angle-selective management of light scattering inside the solar cell and wavelength-selective manipulation of high reflectance or transmittance of light. Diffraction gratings are analyzed as a representative of the first approach. Haze and angular distribution function of scattered (diffracted) light in reflection are measured for aluminum-based rectangular periodic gratings with different period and height of the rectangles. High haze values in specific wavelength region and scattering angles of the investigated gratings measured in air and water agree very well with the theoretical predictions. Considering the actual optical situation in microcrystalline silicon solar cells, optimal period and height of the rectangular gratings applied as a back reflector are calculated for obtaining the total reflection at the front interfaces. In the frame of the second approach, photonic-crystal-like structures are introduced. By means of optical simulations photonic-crystal-like structures are investigated for two possible applications: an intermediate reflector in a micromorph silicon solar cell with wavelength-selective reflectivity and a dielectric back reflector with a high reflectance in the long-wavelength region. The photonic crystal structure consisting of sequences of n-doped amorphous silicon and ZnO layers is designed for the efficient intermediate reflector. For the back reflector with a high reflectance the structures with intrinsic amorphous silicon, SiO2, MgF2 and TiO2 are proposed.

Demonstration of enhanced absorption in thin film Si solar cells with periodic microhemisphere hole arrays

2014 ◽  
Vol 315 ◽  
pp. 79-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Huang ◽  
Qingkang Wang ◽  
Xingmao Yan ◽  
Kexiang Hu ◽  
Mengyao Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Enhanced Absorption ◽  
Si Solar Cells ◽  
Hole Arrays
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