Nano-photonic structures for light trapping in ultra-thin crystalline silicon solar cells

Pathi, Prathap; Peer, Akshit; Biswas, Rana

doi:10.3390/nano7010017

Nano-photonic structures for light trapping in ultra-thin crystalline silicon solar cells

Journal Article · Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Nanomaterials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7010017· OSTI ID:1357794

Pathi, Prathap ^[1]; ^[2]; Biswas, Rana ^[2]

Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States); CSIR-National Physical Lab., New Delhi (India)
Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

Thick wafer-silicon is the dominant solar cell technology. It is of great interest to develop ultra-thin solar cells that can reduce materials usage, but still achieve acceptable performance and high solar absorption. Accordingly, we developed a highly absorbing ultra-thin crystalline Si based solar cell architecture using periodically patterned front and rear dielectric nanocone arrays which provide enhanced light trapping. The rear nanocones are embedded in a silver back reflector. In contrast to previous approaches, we utilize dielectric photonic crystals with a completely flat silicon absorber layer, providing expected high electronic quality and low carrier recombination. This architecture creates a dense mesh of wave-guided modes at near-infrared wavelengths in the absorber layer, generating enhanced absorption. For thin silicon (<2 μm) and 750 nm pitch arrays, scattering matrix simulations predict enhancements exceeding 90%. Absorption approaches the Lambertian limit at small thicknesses (<10 μm) and is slightly lower (by ~5%) at wafer-scale thicknesses. Parasitic losses are ~25% for ultra-thin (2 μm) silicon and just 1%–2% for thicker (>100 μm) cells. There is potential for 20 μm thick cells to provide 30 mA/cm2 photo-current and >20% efficiency. Furthermore, this architecture has great promise for ultra-thin silicon solar panels with reduced material utilization and enhanced light-trapping.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11358

OSTI ID:: 1357794

Report Number(s):: IS-J--9314; PII: nano7010017

Journal Information:: Nanomaterials, Journal Name: Nanomaterials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 7; ISSN 2079-4991; ISSN NANOKO

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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