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Title: Mismatched front and back gratings for optimum light trapping in ultra-thin crystalline silicon solar cells

Journal Article · · Optics Communications
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Middle East Technical Univ., Ankara (Turkey). Micro and Nanotechnology Programme. Electric and Electronics Engineering. Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications
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The implementation of a front and back grating in ultra-thin photovoltaic cells is a promising approach towards improving light trapping. A simple design rule was developed here using the least common multiple (LCM) of the front and back grating periods. From this design rule, several optimal period combinations can be found, providing greater design flexibility for absorbers of indirect band gap materials. Using numerical simulations, the photo-generated current (Jph) for a 10-μm-thick crystalline silicon absorber was predicted to be as high as 38 mA/cm2, which is 11.74% higher than that of a single front grating (Jph=34 mA/cm2).

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001299; FG02-09ER46577; EE0005320
OSTI ID:
1388420
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1324327
Journal Information:
Optics Communications, Vol. 377; ISSN 0030-4018
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 22 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Light-trapping schemes for silicon thin-film solar cells via super-quadratic subwavelength gratings journal January 2019
Indium‐rich InGaN/GaN solar cells with improved performance due to plasmonic and dielectric nanogratings journal September 2019
Understanding the nano-photonics absorption limit in both front-side and front/rear-side textured slabs journal January 2019
Effective Light Absorption Using the Double-sided Pyramid Gratings for Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cell journal July 2018

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
light trapping
double grating
crystalline silicon
solar cell
thin absorber