skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Optimal design of one-dimensional photonic crystal back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells

Abstract

For thin-film silicon solar cells (TFSC), a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D PC) is a good back reflector (BR) because it increases the total internal reflection at the back surface. We used the plane-wave expansion method and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm to simulate and analyze the photonic bandgap (PBG), the reflection and the absorption properties of a 1D PC and to further explore the optimal 1D PC design for use in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells. With identified refractive index contrast and period thickness, we found that the PBG and the reflection of a 1D PC are strongly influenced by the contrast in bilayer thickness. Additionally, light coupled to the top three periods of the 1D PC and was absorbed if one of the bilayers was absorptive. By decreasing the thickness contrast of the absorptive layer relative to the non-absorptive layer, an average reflectivity of 96.7% was achieved for a 1D PC alternatively stacked with a-Si:H and SiO{sub 2} in five periods. This reflectivity was superior to a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure with 93.5% and an Ag film with 93.4%. n-i-p a-Si:H solar cells with an optimal 1D PC-based BR offer a higher short-circuit current densitymore » than those with a DBR-based BR or an AZO/Ag-based BR. These results provide new design rules for photonic structures in TFSC.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Institute of Photoelectronics and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic Thin-film Devices and Technique, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071 (China)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22314626
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 116; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ABSORPTION; CRYSTALS; CURRENT DENSITY; DESIGN; LAYERS; REFLECTION; REFLECTIVITY; REFRACTIVE INDEX; SILICON; SILICON OXIDES; SILICON SOLAR CELLS; THICKNESS; THIN FILMS; VISIBLE RADIATION

Citation Formats

Chen, Peizhuan, Hou, Guofu, Zhang, Jianjun, Zhang, Xiaodan, and Zhao, Ying. Optimal design of one-dimensional photonic crystal back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4893180.
Chen, Peizhuan, Hou, Guofu, Zhang, Jianjun, Zhang, Xiaodan, & Zhao, Ying. Optimal design of one-dimensional photonic crystal back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4893180
Chen, Peizhuan, Hou, Guofu, Zhang, Jianjun, Zhang, Xiaodan, and Zhao, Ying. 2014. "Optimal design of one-dimensional photonic crystal back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4893180.
@article{osti_22314626,
title = {Optimal design of one-dimensional photonic crystal back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells},
author = {Chen, Peizhuan and Hou, Guofu and Zhang, Jianjun and Zhang, Xiaodan and Zhao, Ying},
abstractNote = {For thin-film silicon solar cells (TFSC), a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D PC) is a good back reflector (BR) because it increases the total internal reflection at the back surface. We used the plane-wave expansion method and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm to simulate and analyze the photonic bandgap (PBG), the reflection and the absorption properties of a 1D PC and to further explore the optimal 1D PC design for use in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells. With identified refractive index contrast and period thickness, we found that the PBG and the reflection of a 1D PC are strongly influenced by the contrast in bilayer thickness. Additionally, light coupled to the top three periods of the 1D PC and was absorbed if one of the bilayers was absorptive. By decreasing the thickness contrast of the absorptive layer relative to the non-absorptive layer, an average reflectivity of 96.7% was achieved for a 1D PC alternatively stacked with a-Si:H and SiO{sub 2} in five periods. This reflectivity was superior to a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure with 93.5% and an Ag film with 93.4%. n-i-p a-Si:H solar cells with an optimal 1D PC-based BR offer a higher short-circuit current density than those with a DBR-based BR or an AZO/Ag-based BR. These results provide new design rules for photonic structures in TFSC.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4893180},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22314626}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 6,
volume = 116,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}