Abstract
Dielectric gratings are a promising method of achieving light trapping for thin crystalline silicon solar cells. In this paper, we systematically examine the potential performance of thin silicon solar cells with either silicon (Si) or titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) gratings using numerical simulations. The square pyramid structure with silicon nitride coating provides the best light trapping among all the symmetric structures investigated, with 89% of the expected short circuit current density of the Lambertian case. For structures where the grating is at the rear of the cell, we show that the light trapping provided by the square pyramid and the checkerboard structure is almost identical. Introducing asymmetry into the grating structures can further improve their light trapping properties. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the front surface of the solar cell results in a maximum short circuit current density, J{sub sc}, of 33.4 mA cm{sup -2}, which is 91% of the J{sub sc} expected from an ideal Lambertian scatterer. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the rear performs as well as a rear Lambertian scatterer and an optimized TiO{sub 2} grating on the rear results in 84% of the J{sub sc} expected from an optimized Si grating. The
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Chong, Teck Kong;
[1]
Wilson, Jonathan;
Mokkapati, Sudha;
Catchpole, Kylie R
[2]
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia 5001 (Australia)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 (Australia)
Citation Formats
Chong, Teck Kong, Wilson, Jonathan, Mokkapati, Sudha, and Catchpole, Kylie R.
Optimal wavelength scale diffraction gratings for light trapping in solar cells.
United Kingdom: N. p.,
2012.
Web.
doi:10.1088/2040-8978/14/2/024012.
Chong, Teck Kong, Wilson, Jonathan, Mokkapati, Sudha, & Catchpole, Kylie R.
Optimal wavelength scale diffraction gratings for light trapping in solar cells.
United Kingdom.
https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/14/2/024012
Chong, Teck Kong, Wilson, Jonathan, Mokkapati, Sudha, and Catchpole, Kylie R.
2012.
"Optimal wavelength scale diffraction gratings for light trapping in solar cells."
United Kingdom.
https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/14/2/024012.
@misc{etde_22198737,
title = {Optimal wavelength scale diffraction gratings for light trapping in solar cells}
author = {Chong, Teck Kong, Wilson, Jonathan, Mokkapati, Sudha, and Catchpole, Kylie R}
abstractNote = {Dielectric gratings are a promising method of achieving light trapping for thin crystalline silicon solar cells. In this paper, we systematically examine the potential performance of thin silicon solar cells with either silicon (Si) or titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) gratings using numerical simulations. The square pyramid structure with silicon nitride coating provides the best light trapping among all the symmetric structures investigated, with 89% of the expected short circuit current density of the Lambertian case. For structures where the grating is at the rear of the cell, we show that the light trapping provided by the square pyramid and the checkerboard structure is almost identical. Introducing asymmetry into the grating structures can further improve their light trapping properties. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the front surface of the solar cell results in a maximum short circuit current density, J{sub sc}, of 33.4 mA cm{sup -2}, which is 91% of the J{sub sc} expected from an ideal Lambertian scatterer. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the rear performs as well as a rear Lambertian scatterer and an optimized TiO{sub 2} grating on the rear results in 84% of the J{sub sc} expected from an optimized Si grating. The results show that submicron symmetric and skewed pyramids of Si or TiO{sub 2} are a highly effective way of achieving light trapping in thin film solar cells. TiO{sub 2} structures would have the additional advantage of not increasing recombination within the cell. (paper)}
doi = {10.1088/2040-8978/14/2/024012}
journal = []
issue = {2}
volume = {14}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2012}
month = {Feb}
}
title = {Optimal wavelength scale diffraction gratings for light trapping in solar cells}
author = {Chong, Teck Kong, Wilson, Jonathan, Mokkapati, Sudha, and Catchpole, Kylie R}
abstractNote = {Dielectric gratings are a promising method of achieving light trapping for thin crystalline silicon solar cells. In this paper, we systematically examine the potential performance of thin silicon solar cells with either silicon (Si) or titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) gratings using numerical simulations. The square pyramid structure with silicon nitride coating provides the best light trapping among all the symmetric structures investigated, with 89% of the expected short circuit current density of the Lambertian case. For structures where the grating is at the rear of the cell, we show that the light trapping provided by the square pyramid and the checkerboard structure is almost identical. Introducing asymmetry into the grating structures can further improve their light trapping properties. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the front surface of the solar cell results in a maximum short circuit current density, J{sub sc}, of 33.4 mA cm{sup -2}, which is 91% of the J{sub sc} expected from an ideal Lambertian scatterer. An optimized Si skewed pyramid grating on the rear performs as well as a rear Lambertian scatterer and an optimized TiO{sub 2} grating on the rear results in 84% of the J{sub sc} expected from an optimized Si grating. The results show that submicron symmetric and skewed pyramids of Si or TiO{sub 2} are a highly effective way of achieving light trapping in thin film solar cells. TiO{sub 2} structures would have the additional advantage of not increasing recombination within the cell. (paper)}
doi = {10.1088/2040-8978/14/2/024012}
journal = []
issue = {2}
volume = {14}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2012}
month = {Feb}
}