Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells

Foster, Stephen; John, Sajeev

doi:10.1063/1.4962458

Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells

Journal Article · Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4962458· OSTI ID:1467885

Foster, Stephen ^[1]; John, Sajeev ^[2]

Univ. of Toronto, ON (Canada). Dept. of Physics; University of Toronto
Univ. of Toronto, ON (Canada). Dept. of Physics

Using finite-difference time-domain simulations, we investigate the optical properties of tandem silicon/perovskite solar cells with a photonic crystal architecture, consisting of a square-lattice array of inverted pyramids with a center-to-center spacing of 2.5 μm. Here, we demonstrate that near-perfect light-trapping and absorption can be achieved over the 300–1100 nm wavelength range with this architecture, using less than 10 μm (equivalent bulk thickness) of crystalline silicon. Using a one-diode model, we obtain projected efficiencies of over 30% for the two-terminal tandem cell under a current-matching condition, well beyond the current record for single-junction silicon solar cells. Lastly, the architecture is amenable to mass fabrication through wet-etching and uses a fraction of the silicon of traditional designs, making it an attractive alternative to other silicon-perovskite tandem designs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-06ER46347

OSTI ID:: 1467885

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1324362

Journal Information:: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 120; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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