skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light trapping

Abstract

We present a simple, low-cost, and scalable approach for the fabrication of efficient nanorod-based solar cells. Templates with arrays of self-assembled ZnO nanorods with tunable morphology are synthesized by chemical bath deposition using a low process temperature at 80 °C. The nanorod templates are conformally coated with hydrogenated amorphous silicon light absorber layers of 100 nm and 200 nm thickness. An initial efficiency of up to 9.0% is achieved for the optimized design. External quantum efficiency measurements on the nanorod cells show a substantial photocurrent enhancement both in the red and the blue parts of the solar spectrum. Key insights in the light trapping mechanisms in these arrays are obtained via a combination of three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations, optical absorption, and external quantum efficiency measurements. Front surface patterns enhance the light incoupling in the blue, while rear side patterns lead to enhanced light trapping in the red. The red response in the nanorod cells is limited by absorption in the patterned Ag back contact. With these findings, we develop and experimentally realize a further advanced design with patterned front and back sides while keeping the Ag reflector flat, showing significantly enhanced scattering from the back reflector with reduced parasitic absorption in the Agmore » and thus higher photocurrent generation. Many of the findings in this work can serve to provide insights for further optimization of nanostructures for thin-film solar cells in a broad range of materials.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]; ;  [3];  [1]
  1. Physics of Devices, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, High Tech Campus, Building 21, 5656 AE Eindhoven (Netherlands)
  2. Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  3. Department of Applied Physics, Plasma & Materials Processing, Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE), P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22492926
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 118; Journal Issue: 18; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ABSORPTION; DESIGN; FABRICATION; HYDROGENATION; LAYERS; MORPHOLOGY; NANOSTRUCTURES; QUANTUM EFFICIENCY; SCATTERING; SILICON; SILICON SOLAR CELLS; SIMULATION; THICKNESS; THIN FILMS; TRAPPING; ZINC OXIDES

Citation Formats

Kuang, Y., Department of Applied Physics, Plasma & Materials Processing, Eindhoven University of Technology, Lare, M. C. van, Polman, A., Veldhuizen, L. W., Schropp, R. E. I.,, and Rath, J. K. Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light trapping. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4935539.
Kuang, Y., Department of Applied Physics, Plasma & Materials Processing, Eindhoven University of Technology, Lare, M. C. van, Polman, A., Veldhuizen, L. W., Schropp, R. E. I.,, & Rath, J. K. Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light trapping. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935539
Kuang, Y., Department of Applied Physics, Plasma & Materials Processing, Eindhoven University of Technology, Lare, M. C. van, Polman, A., Veldhuizen, L. W., Schropp, R. E. I.,, and Rath, J. K. 2015. "Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light trapping". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935539.
@article{osti_22492926,
title = {Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light trapping},
author = {Kuang, Y. and Department of Applied Physics, Plasma & Materials Processing, Eindhoven University of Technology and Lare, M. C. van and Polman, A. and Veldhuizen, L. W. and Schropp, R. E. I., and Rath, J. K.},
abstractNote = {We present a simple, low-cost, and scalable approach for the fabrication of efficient nanorod-based solar cells. Templates with arrays of self-assembled ZnO nanorods with tunable morphology are synthesized by chemical bath deposition using a low process temperature at 80 °C. The nanorod templates are conformally coated with hydrogenated amorphous silicon light absorber layers of 100 nm and 200 nm thickness. An initial efficiency of up to 9.0% is achieved for the optimized design. External quantum efficiency measurements on the nanorod cells show a substantial photocurrent enhancement both in the red and the blue parts of the solar spectrum. Key insights in the light trapping mechanisms in these arrays are obtained via a combination of three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations, optical absorption, and external quantum efficiency measurements. Front surface patterns enhance the light incoupling in the blue, while rear side patterns lead to enhanced light trapping in the red. The red response in the nanorod cells is limited by absorption in the patterned Ag back contact. With these findings, we develop and experimentally realize a further advanced design with patterned front and back sides while keeping the Ag reflector flat, showing significantly enhanced scattering from the back reflector with reduced parasitic absorption in the Ag and thus higher photocurrent generation. Many of the findings in this work can serve to provide insights for further optimization of nanostructures for thin-film solar cells in a broad range of materials.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4935539},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22492926}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 18,
volume = 118,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}