Optimization of Photon and Electron Collection Efficiencies in Silicon Solar Microcells for Use in Concentration-Based Photovoltaic Systems
Abstract
Abstract Ultrathin silicon solar microcells (μ‐cells) afford a means to reduce semiconductor material consumption and can be integrated with concentration optics to improve their power density. A μ‐cell design is described that optimizes electron and photon collection with enhanced efficiency for solar concentration applications. An interdigitated back contact (IBC) design improves carrier collection partially due to larger contact coverage while further enabling optimization of the μ‐cell front surface. To do so, a silicon nitride antireflection thin film coating is utilized to enhance photon absorption and improve surface passivation. Performance of IBC μ‐cells is compared to an optimized top contact design and improves μ‐cell conversion efficiencies from 9.9 to 13.7%. Improvements at 1 Sun are amplified under concentration and increase power densities at 20 Suns to 346 from 192 mW cm −2 due to minimized series resistance. Benefits afforded by IBC μ‐cells are exemplified following their integration into a dual concentrator system, affording photon collection capacities for direct and diffuse irradiance. A traditional lens concentrates direct light while a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) collects diffuse photons otherwise not utilized by passive optics. Addition of the LSC increases maximum power densities on clear and cloudy days, providing concentration for the latter andmore »
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States). Fredrick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, Dept. of Chemistry
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Light-Material Interactions in Energy Conversion (LMI)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1470395
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1395603
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0001293; DE‐SC0001293; 67N‐1087758
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials Technologies
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 11; Related Information: LMI partners with California Institute of Technology (lead); Harvard University; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Journal ID: ISSN 2365-709X
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING; solar (photovoltaic); solid state lighting; phonons; thermal conductivity; electrodes - solar; materials and chemistry by design; optics; synthesis (novel materials); synthesis (self-assembly)
Citation Formats
Yoder, Mikayla A., Yao, Yuan, He, Junwen, and Nuzzo, Ralph G. Optimization of Photon and Electron Collection Efficiencies in Silicon Solar Microcells for Use in Concentration-Based Photovoltaic Systems. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1002/admt.201700169.
Yoder, Mikayla A., Yao, Yuan, He, Junwen, & Nuzzo, Ralph G. Optimization of Photon and Electron Collection Efficiencies in Silicon Solar Microcells for Use in Concentration-Based Photovoltaic Systems. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201700169
Yoder, Mikayla A., Yao, Yuan, He, Junwen, and Nuzzo, Ralph G. Fri .
"Optimization of Photon and Electron Collection Efficiencies in Silicon Solar Microcells for Use in Concentration-Based Photovoltaic Systems". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201700169. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1470395.
@article{osti_1470395,
title = {Optimization of Photon and Electron Collection Efficiencies in Silicon Solar Microcells for Use in Concentration-Based Photovoltaic Systems},
author = {Yoder, Mikayla A. and Yao, Yuan and He, Junwen and Nuzzo, Ralph G.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Ultrathin silicon solar microcells (μ‐cells) afford a means to reduce semiconductor material consumption and can be integrated with concentration optics to improve their power density. A μ‐cell design is described that optimizes electron and photon collection with enhanced efficiency for solar concentration applications. An interdigitated back contact (IBC) design improves carrier collection partially due to larger contact coverage while further enabling optimization of the μ‐cell front surface. To do so, a silicon nitride antireflection thin film coating is utilized to enhance photon absorption and improve surface passivation. Performance of IBC μ‐cells is compared to an optimized top contact design and improves μ‐cell conversion efficiencies from 9.9 to 13.7%. Improvements at 1 Sun are amplified under concentration and increase power densities at 20 Suns to 346 from 192 mW cm −2 due to minimized series resistance. Benefits afforded by IBC μ‐cells are exemplified following their integration into a dual concentrator system, affording photon collection capacities for direct and diffuse irradiance. A traditional lens concentrates direct light while a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) collects diffuse photons otherwise not utilized by passive optics. Addition of the LSC increases maximum power densities on clear and cloudy days, providing concentration for the latter and further increasing the power density.},
doi = {10.1002/admt.201700169},
journal = {Advanced Materials Technologies},
number = 11,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Fri Sep 29 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
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