Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency
Abstract
The efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is enhanced by light trapping using Mie-scattering nanostructures. In one embodiment, an array of nanocylinders is formed on the front surface of a silicon film to enhance forward scattering into the film, and an array of nanocylinders is formed on the back surface to enhance backscattering so that more light is absorbed within the silicon film. In an alternate embodiment, a mirror layer is formed on the back surface of the silicon film to reflect light within the film back toward the front-surface nanocylinder array.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1226233
- Patent Number(s):
- 9190542
- Application Number:
- 14/555,438
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2014 Nov 26
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY
Citation Formats
Brener, Igal, Fofang, Nche Tumasang, and Luk, Ting S. Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web.
Brener, Igal, Fofang, Nche Tumasang, & Luk, Ting S. Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency. United States.
Brener, Igal, Fofang, Nche Tumasang, and Luk, Ting S. Thu .
"Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1226233.
@article{osti_1226233,
title = {Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency},
author = {Brener, Igal and Fofang, Nche Tumasang and Luk, Ting S.},
abstractNote = {The efficiency of a photovoltaic cell is enhanced by light trapping using Mie-scattering nanostructures. In one embodiment, an array of nanocylinders is formed on the front surface of a silicon film to enhance forward scattering into the film, and an array of nanocylinders is formed on the back surface to enhance backscattering so that more light is absorbed within the silicon film. In an alternate embodiment, a mirror layer is formed on the back surface of the silicon film to reflect light within the film back toward the front-surface nanocylinder array.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {11}
}
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