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Title: Electrophoretic deposited TiO2 pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells

Abstract

Highly reflective coatings with strong light scattering effect have many applications in optical components and optoelectronic devices. This paper reports titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment-based reflectors that have 2.5 times higher broadband diffuse reflection than commercially produced aluminum or silver based reflectors and result in efficiency enhancements of a single-junction amorphous Si solar cell. Electrophoretic deposition is used to produce pigment-based back reflectors with high pigment density, controllable film thickness and site-specific deposition. Electrical conductivity of the pigment-based back reflectors is improved by creating electrical vias throughout the pigment-based back reflector by making holes using an electrical discharge / dielectric breakdown approach followed by a second electrophoretic deposition of conductive nanoparticles into the holes. While previous studies have demonstrated the use of pigment-based back reflectors, for example white paint, on glass superstrate configured thin film Si solar cells, this work presents a scheme for producing pigment-based reflectors on complex shape and flexible substrates. Finally, mechanical durability and scalability are demonstrated on a continuous electrophoretic deposition roll-to-roll system which has flexible metal substrate capability of 4 inch wide and 300 feet long.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States); South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  2. Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States)
  3. South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  4. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  5. South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States); South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
National Science Foundation (NSF), Arlington, VA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
1220712
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5200-63989
Journal ID: ISSN 1094-4087
Grant/Contract Number:  
DGE-0903685; 1248970
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Optics Express
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1094-4087
Publisher:
Optical Society of America (OSA)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; solar energy; scattering; particles; thin films

Citation Formats

Bills, Braden, Morris, Nathan, Dubey, Mukul, Wang, Qi, and Fan, Qi Hua. Electrophoretic deposited TiO2 pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1364/OE.23.000A71.
Bills, Braden, Morris, Nathan, Dubey, Mukul, Wang, Qi, & Fan, Qi Hua. Electrophoretic deposited TiO2 pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.000A71
Bills, Braden, Morris, Nathan, Dubey, Mukul, Wang, Qi, and Fan, Qi Hua. 2015. "Electrophoretic deposited TiO2 pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.000A71. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1220712.
@article{osti_1220712,
title = {Electrophoretic deposited TiO2 pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells},
author = {Bills, Braden and Morris, Nathan and Dubey, Mukul and Wang, Qi and Fan, Qi Hua},
abstractNote = {Highly reflective coatings with strong light scattering effect have many applications in optical components and optoelectronic devices. This paper reports titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment-based reflectors that have 2.5 times higher broadband diffuse reflection than commercially produced aluminum or silver based reflectors and result in efficiency enhancements of a single-junction amorphous Si solar cell. Electrophoretic deposition is used to produce pigment-based back reflectors with high pigment density, controllable film thickness and site-specific deposition. Electrical conductivity of the pigment-based back reflectors is improved by creating electrical vias throughout the pigment-based back reflector by making holes using an electrical discharge / dielectric breakdown approach followed by a second electrophoretic deposition of conductive nanoparticles into the holes. While previous studies have demonstrated the use of pigment-based back reflectors, for example white paint, on glass superstrate configured thin film Si solar cells, this work presents a scheme for producing pigment-based reflectors on complex shape and flexible substrates. Finally, mechanical durability and scalability are demonstrated on a continuous electrophoretic deposition roll-to-roll system which has flexible metal substrate capability of 4 inch wide and 300 feet long.},
doi = {10.1364/OE.23.000A71},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1220712}, journal = {Optics Express},
issn = {1094-4087},
number = 3,
volume = 23,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 8 works
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Works referenced in this record:

Triple-junction amorphous silicon alloy solar cell with 14.6% initial and 13.0% stable conversion efficiencies
journal, June 1997


High efficiency silicon–germanium thin film solar cells using graded absorber layer
journal, July 2010


Design of low emissivity systems based on a three-layer coating
journal, September 1997


Light trapping in Silicon-Film™ solar cells with rear pigmented dielectric reflectors
journal, July 1999


Commercial white paint as back surface reflector for thin-film solar cells
journal, August 2007


Modeling and optimization of white paint back reflectors for thin-film silicon solar cells
journal, November 2010


Optical intensity of light in layers of silicon with rear diffuse reflectors
journal, July 1998


Intensity enhancement in textured optical sheets for solar cells
journal, February 1982


Works referencing / citing this record:

High‐Performance Reflective Electrochromic Device by Integrating White Reflector and High Optical Density Electrochromic System
journal, July 2019