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Title: Analysis of an anti-reflecting nanowire transparent electrode for solar cells

Abstract

Transparent electrodes are an important component in many optoelectronic devices, especially solar cells. In this study, we investigate a nanowire transparent electrode that also functions as an anti-reflection coating for silicon solar cells, taking into account the practical constraints that the electrode is typically encapsulated and needs to be in electric contact with the semiconductor. Numerical simulations show that the electrode can provide near-perfect broadband anti-reflection over much of the frequency range above the silicon band gap for both polarizations while keeping the sheet resistance sufficiently low. To provide insights into the physics mechanism of this broadband anti-reflection, we introduce a generalized Fabry–Perot model, which captures the effects of the higher order diffraction channels as well as the modification of the reflection coefficient of the interface introduced by the nanowires. This model is validated using frequency-domain electromagnetic simulations. Finally, our work here provides design guidelines for nanowire transparent electrode in a device configuration that is relevant for solar cell applications.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering. Ginzton Lab.
  2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Applied Physics
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center on Nanostructuring for Efficient Energy Conversion (CNEEC); Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1465331
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1348040
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0001060
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 121; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; silicon; nanowires; polarization; light diffraction; antireflective coatings; solar cells; electrodes; silver; reflection coefficient

Citation Formats

Zhao, Zhexin, Wang, Ken Xingze, and Fan, Shanhui. Analysis of an anti-reflecting nanowire transparent electrode for solar cells. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4978769.
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Zhao, Zhexin, Wang, Ken Xingze, & Fan, Shanhui. Analysis of an anti-reflecting nanowire transparent electrode for solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4978769
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Zhao, Zhexin, Wang, Ken Xingze, and Fan, Shanhui. Tue . "Analysis of an anti-reflecting nanowire transparent electrode for solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4978769. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1465331.
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@article{osti_1465331,
title = {Analysis of an anti-reflecting nanowire transparent electrode for solar cells},
author = {Zhao, Zhexin and Wang, Ken Xingze and Fan, Shanhui},
abstractNote = {Transparent electrodes are an important component in many optoelectronic devices, especially solar cells. In this study, we investigate a nanowire transparent electrode that also functions as an anti-reflection coating for silicon solar cells, taking into account the practical constraints that the electrode is typically encapsulated and needs to be in electric contact with the semiconductor. Numerical simulations show that the electrode can provide near-perfect broadband anti-reflection over much of the frequency range above the silicon band gap for both polarizations while keeping the sheet resistance sufficiently low. To provide insights into the physics mechanism of this broadband anti-reflection, we introduce a generalized Fabry–Perot model, which captures the effects of the higher order diffraction channels as well as the modification of the reflection coefficient of the interface introduced by the nanowires. This model is validated using frequency-domain electromagnetic simulations. Finally, our work here provides design guidelines for nanowire transparent electrode in a device configuration that is relevant for solar cell applications.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4978769},
journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
number = 11,
volume = 121,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Tue Mar 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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Journal Article:
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https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4978769
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