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.

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

scholarly journals Hot wire deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Mahan ◽  
B. P. Nelson ◽  
E. Iwaniczko ◽  
Q. Wang ◽  
E. C. Molenbroek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous
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