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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Toronto, ON (Canada). Dept. of Physics
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1467885
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1324362
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-06ER46347
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 120; Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Foster, Stephen, and John, Sajeev. Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4962458.
Foster, Stephen, & John, Sajeev. Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4962458
Foster, Stephen, and John, Sajeev. Tue . "Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4962458. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1467885.
@article{osti_1467885,
title = {Light-trapping design for thin-film silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells},
author = {Foster, Stephen and John, Sajeev},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4962458},
journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
number = 10,
volume = 120,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Cited by: 29 works
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