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:
-
- Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States); South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Applied NanoFilms, Brookings, SD (United States)
- South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- 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}
}
Web of Science
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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