Performance of Ultrathin Silicon Solar Microcells with Nanostructures of Relief Formed by Soft Imprint Lithography for Broad Band Absorption Enhancement

Shir, Dan; Yoon, Jongseung; Chanda, Debashis; Ryu, Jae-Ha; Rogers, John A.

doi:10.1021/nl101510q

Performance of Ultrathin Silicon Solar Microcells with Nanostructures of Relief Formed by Soft Imprint Lithography for Broad Band Absorption Enhancement

Journal Article · Mon Jun 28 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Nano Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/nl101510q· OSTI ID:1876030

Shir, Dan ^[1]; Yoon, Jongseung ^[2]; Chanda, Debashis ^[2]; Ryu, Jae-Ha ^[2]; Rogers, John A. ^[2]

Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); University of Illinois
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Recently developed classes of monocrystalline silicon solar microcells can be assembled into modules with characteristics (i.e., mechanically flexible forms, compact concentrator designs, and high-voltage outputs) that would be impossible to achieve using conventional, wafer-based approaches. This paper presents experimental and computational studies of the optics of light absorption in ultrathin microcells that include nanoscale features of relief on their surfaces, formed by soft imprint lithography. Measurements on working devices with designs optimized for broad band trapping of incident light indicate good efficiencies in energy production even at thicknesses of just a few micrometers. Lastly, these outcomes are relevant not only to the microcell technology described here but also to other photovoltaic systems that benefit from thin construction and efficient materials utilization.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; National Science Foundation

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-07ER46471

OSTI ID:: 1876030

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1380397

Journal Information:: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 10; ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
absorption
light trapping
nanoimprint lithography
optical nanostructures
photovoltaics
quantum mechanics
silicon
soft lithography
solar cells
thickness

Performance of Ultrathin Silicon Solar Microcells with Nanostructures of Relief Formed by Soft Imprint Lithography for Broad Band Absorption Enhancement

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