Optical Modeling of Capped Multi-Layer Porous Silicon as a Back Reflector in Thin-Film Solar Cells

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ghannam ◽  
Ahmed Abouelsaood ◽  
I. Kuzma ◽  
F. Duerinckx ◽  
J. Poortmans
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Porous Silicon ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Optical Modeling ◽  
Back Reflector

Novel application of MgF2as a back reflector in a-SiOx:H thin-film solar cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 082302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Won Kang ◽  
Porponth Sichanugrist ◽  
Makoto Konagai
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Analysis of thin-film silicon solar cells with plasma textured front surface and multi-layer porous silicon back reflector

2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 850-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moustafa Y. Ghannam ◽  
Ahmed A. Abouelsaood ◽  
Abdulazeez S. Alomar ◽  
Jef Poortmans
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Porous Silicon ◽  
Front Surface ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Thin Film Silicon ◽  
Back Reflector

scholarly journals Highly Reflective Dielectric Back Reflector for Improved Efficiency of Tandem Thin-Film Solar Cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chog Barugkin ◽  
Ulrich W. Paetzold ◽  
Kylie R. Catchpole ◽  
Angelika Basch ◽  
Reinhard Carius
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Average Reflectance ◽  
Back Reflector ◽  
Ag Reflector

We report on the prototyping and development of a highly reflective dielectric back reflector for application in thin-film solar cells. The back reflector is fabricated by Snow Globe Coating (SGC), an innovative, simple, and cheap process to deposit a uniform layer of TiO2particles which shows remarkably high reflectance over a broad spectrum (average reflectance of 99% from 500 nm to 1100 nm). We apply the highly reflective back reflector to tandem thin-film silicon solar cells and compare its performance with conventional ZnO:Al/Ag reflector. By using SGC back reflector, an enhancement of 0.5 mA/cm2in external quantum efficiency of the bottom solar cell and an absolute value of 0.2% enhancement in overall power conversion efficiency are achieved. We also show that the increase in power conversion efficiency is due to the reduction of parasitic absorption at the back contact; that is, the use of the dielectric reflector avoids plasmonic losses at the reference ZnO:Al/Ag back reflector. The Snow Globe Coating process is compatible with other types of solar cells such as crystalline silicon, III–V, and organic photovoltaics. Due to its cost effectiveness, stability, and excellent reflectivity above a wavelength of 400 nm, it has high potential to be applied in industry.

Development of textured back reflector for n–i–p flexible silicon thin film solar cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 709-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Tao ◽  
Dexian Zhang ◽  
Linshen Wang ◽  
Jingfang Zhao ◽  
Hongkun Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Silicon Thin Film ◽  
Back Reflector

Power effect of ZnO:Al film as back reflector on the performance of thin-film solar cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 011302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang-Shih Lin ◽  
Shui-Yang Lien ◽  
Chao-Chun Wang ◽  
Chueh-Yang Liu ◽  
Asheesh Nautiyal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Power Effect ◽  
Back Reflector

Double-layered Ag–Al back reflector on stainless steel substrate for a-Si:H thin film solar cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang Hoon Jung ◽  
Sun Jin Yun ◽  
Seong Hyun Lee ◽  
Yoo Jeong Lee ◽  
Kyu-Sung Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Stainless Steel Substrate ◽  
Steel Substrate ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Cost-effective hollow honeycomb textured back reflector for flexible thin film solar cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanjing Liu ◽  
Qian Huang ◽  
Guofu Hou ◽  
Baochen Jiao ◽  
Guangcai Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Back Reflector

Investigation of Parasitic Absorption in Back Contact of CdTe Solar Cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Smay ◽  
Ola Rashwan ◽  
James Then ◽  
Darien Perez
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Absorption Efficiency ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Infrared Range ◽  
Back Contact ◽  
Back Reflector ◽  
Metal Back

Thin film solar cells (TFSC) differ from the conventional wafer solar cell panels in that they are a fraction of the thickness, hence they boast reduced material costs, lighter weight, and possible flexibility. To improve their light-trapping and absorption efficiency, manufacturers currently use nanometer scale texturing. When manufacturing nano textured thin film solar cells in the substrate configuration, the back reflector is also textured. It has been observed that a textured back reflector leads to parasitic light absorption in silicon solar cells. This occurrence reduces the back reflector effectiveness, and thus reduces absorption in the absorber layer and overall efficiency. However, there is little to no similar research done for thin film (CdTe/CdS) solar cells devices. In this work, wave optical analyses of thin film CdTe/CdS solar cells with and without nano texturing on the metal back reflectors were simulated using ANSYS ANSOFT High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS). The optical analyses yielded percentage absorptions for unit cells with four absorber thicknesses range between 250- to 1000 nm, with and without a textured back reflector over six wavelengths range from 360nm to 860 nm, and with 3 different back contact metals (Au, Ag, and Al). It was noted that the textured back contacts show a substantial increase in the absorption in the active CdTe layer in the infrared range. Additionally, back reflector texturing increases the parasitic absorption in the metal back reflector layer as well, especially with ultrathin absorber layer. It was also found that additional parasitic absorption due to a textured back reflector has less of an impact on absorption as the active absorber thickness increases to 500 nm, 750 nm, or 1000 nm. Finally, silver (Ag) as back contact outperforms both aluminum (Al) and gold (Au). This finding might be crucial to solar cell manufacturers because it could possibly be an overlooked factor in achieving higher efficiencies for relatively thin cells.

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