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Investigation on Nanorod TCO Light-trapping for a-Si:H Solar Cells in Superstrate Configuration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2012

Martin Vehse ,
Stefan Geißendörfer ,
Tobias Voss ,
Jan-Peter Richters ,
Benedikt Schumacher ,
Karsten von Maydell  and
Carsten Agert
Martin Vehse
Affiliation:
NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Center for Energy Technology at Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Stefan Geißendörfer
Affiliation:
NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Center for Energy Technology at Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Tobias Voss
Affiliation:
University of Bremen, Institute of Solid State Physics, Semiconductor Optics Group, 28334 Bremen, Germany
Jan-Peter Richters
Affiliation:
University of Bremen, Institute of Solid State Physics, Semiconductor Optics Group, 28334 Bremen, Germany
Benedikt Schumacher
Affiliation:
NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Center for Energy Technology at Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Karsten von Maydell
Affiliation:
NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Center for Energy Technology at Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Carsten Agert
Affiliation:
NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Center for Energy Technology at Carl von Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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Abstract

Light trapping due to rough transparent conductive oxide (TCO) surfaces is a common and industrially applied technique in thin film silicon solar cells. In this study, we demonstrate a novel light trapping solution using electrochemically deposited, highly doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays which goes beyond standard light management concepts. The n-doped ZnO rods enable the application as front electrode in superstrate configuration. We explain our experimental results by multidimensional solar cell simulations and show how the nanorod array geometry influences the cell performance. The requirement is demonstrated to choose an appropriate average nanorod distance which strongly influences the electrical cell characteristics. The results clearly outline the potential of TCO nanorod technology for enhanced light trapping.

Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1426: Symposium A – Amorphous and Polycrystalline Thin-Film Silicon Science and Technology—2012 , 2012 , pp. 111 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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