Enhanced light trapping in thin amorphous silicon solar cells by directionally selective optical filters

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Ulbrich ◽  
Marius Peters ◽  
Muhammad Tayyib ◽  
Benedikt Blaesi ◽  
Thomas Kirchartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Optical Filters ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells

Broadband light trapping in nanopatterned thin film amorphous silicon solar cells

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Martella ◽  
C. Mennucci ◽  
M.C. Giordano ◽  
F. Buatier de Mongeot ◽  
P. Delli Veneri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells

Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells With Silver Nanoparticles Embedded Inside the Absorber Layer

2010 ◽  
Vol 1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudi Santbergen ◽  
Renrong Liang ◽  
Miro Zeman
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Metal Nanoparticles ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Silicon Layer ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Bottom Part ◽  
Embedded Particles

AbstractA novel light trapping technique for solar cells is based on light scattering by metal nanoparticles through excitation of localized surface plasmons. We investigated the effect of metal nanoparticles embedded inside the absorber layer of amorphous silicon solar cells on the cell performance. The position of the particles inside the absorber layer was varied. Transmission electron microscopy images of the cell devices showed well defined silver nanoparticles, indicating that they survive the embedding procedure. The optical absorption of samples where the silver nanoparticles were embedded in thin amorphous silicon layer showed an enhancement peak around the plasmon resonance of 800 nm. The embedded particles significantly reduce the performance of the fabricated devices. We attribute this to the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in the absorber layer induced by the presence of the silver nanoparticles. Finally we demonstrate that the fabricated solar cells exhibit tandem-like behavior where the silver nanoparticles separate the absorber layer into a top and bottom part.

Periodic Structures for Improved Light Management in Thin-film Silicon Solar Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janez Krc ◽  
Andrej Campa ◽  
Stefan L. Luxembourg ◽  
Miro Zeman ◽  
Marko Topic
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Photonic Crystal ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Periodic Structures ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Thin Film Silicon ◽  
Light Management

AbstractAdvanced light management in thin-film solar cells is important in order to improve the photo-current and, thus, to raise up the conversion efficiencies of the solar cells. In this article two types of periodic structures ¡V one-dimensional diffraction gratings and photonic crystals,are analyzed in the direction of showing their potential for improved light trapping in thin-film silicon solar cells. The anti-reflective effects and enhanced scattering at the gratings with the triangular and rectangular features are studied by means of two-dimensional optical simulations. Simulations of the complete microcrystalline solar cell incorporating the gratings at all interfaces are presented. Critical optical issues to be overcome for achieving the performances of the cells with the optimized randomly textured interfaces are pointed out. Reflectance measurements for the designed 12 layer photonic crystal stack consisting of amorphous silicon nitride and amorphous silicon layers are presented and compared with the simulations. High reflectance (up to 99 %) of the stack is measured for a broad wavelength spectrum. By means of optical simulations the potential for using a simple photonic crystal structure as a back reflector in an amorphous silicon solar cell is demonstrated.

Scattering, Diffraction, and Geometric Light Trapping in Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells on Plastic Substrates

2012 ◽  
Vol 1426 ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. de Jong ◽  
J. Baggerman ◽  
C.J.M. van Rijn ◽  
P.J. Sonneveld ◽  
G.L.A.M. Swinkels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Flat Glass ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Plastic Substrates ◽  
Glass Substrates ◽  
Current Densities ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous ◽  
Geometric Effects

ABSTRACTIn this study we compare light trapping in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells deposited directly onto polycarbonate (PC) at low temperature (< 130°C). To that end, we embossed PC substrates with 400 nm and 10 μm square based pyramids to induce light trapping based on diffraction and on geometric effects. As a comparison, we deposited a-Si:H cells on flat glass substrates and on Asahi U-type TCO glass. The cells on PC generate current densities comparable (slightly higher) than cells on Asahi TCO glass, but suffer from a slightly lower Voc, resulting in cells with an initial efficiency of 6.8% and 7.4% on sub-micron pyramid and micro-pyramid structured PC substrates respectively, compared to 7.6% for cells on Asahi. This shows great potential for a-Si:H cells deposited directly onto cheap plastics.

Light trapping in amorphous silicon solar cells on plastic substrates

2003 ◽  
Vol 769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Terrazzoni-Daudrix ◽  
Joelle Guillet ◽  
Xavier Niquille ◽  
Arvind Shah ◽  
R. Morf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Plastic Substrates ◽  
Trapping Effect ◽  
Thin Film Silicon

AbstractIn order to simultaneously decrease the production costs of thin film silicon solar cells and obtain higher performances, the authors have studied the possibility to increase the light trapping effect within thin film silicon solar cells deposited on flexible plastic substrates. In this context, different nano-structure shapes useable for the back contacts of amorphous silicon solar cells on plastic substrates have been investigated: random textures and gratings.The optimisation of such back reflectors is so far empirical. Gratings constitute a well-known optical technique and their light trapping effect can be optimised by simulation.A first conclusion is that neither the traditional “Haze factor” determined in air for a wavelength of 650nm nor the “rms roughness” of the surfaces are sufficient as criteria to optimise the back contact roughness for light trapping in cells. The shape of grains is a further essential criterion. The authors have so far obtained a relative current enhancement of 16% for solar cells deposited on randomly textured polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as compared to a corresponding conventional solar cell co-deposited on a flat mirror (Ag) on glass. Solar cells on PET with 6.3% stabilized efficiency have until now been obtained. Theoretical calculations indicate that gratings can enhance the current of a-Si solar cells by up to 30 percent.

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