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Advanced Light Trapping in Thin-film Silicon Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Miro Zeman ,
Olindo Isabella ,
Klaus Jaeger ,
Rudi Santbergen ,
Renrong Liang ,
Serge Solntsev  and
Janez Krc
Miro Zeman
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit /DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Olindo Isabella
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit / DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Klaus Jaeger
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit /DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Rudi Santbergen
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit / DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Renrong Liang
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit /DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Serge Solntsev
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, PVMD Unit /DIMES, Delft, Netherlands
Janez Krc
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Abstract

Photon management is one of the key issues for improving the performance of thin-film silicon solar cells. An important part of the photon management is light trapping that helps to confine photons inside the thin absorber layers. At present light trapping is accomplished by the employment of the refractive-index matching layers at the front side and the high-reflective layers at the back contact of the solar cells and scattering of light at randomly surface-textured interfaces. In this article key issues and potential of light management in thin-film silicon solar cells are addressed. Novel approaches for light trapping are presented such as i) surface textures based on periodic diffraction gratings and modulated surface morphologies for enhanced scattering and anti-reflection, ii) metal nano-particles introducing plasmonic scattering, and iii) one-dimensional photonic-crystal-like structures for back reflectors.

Keywords

amorphousSioptical properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1245: Symposium A – Amorphous and Polycrystalline Thin-Film Silicon Science and Technology-2010 , 2010 , 1245-A03-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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