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Light Trapping by Periodically Structured TCO in the Submicrometer Range

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Christopher Eisele ,
Christoph E. Nebel  and
Martin Stutzmann
Christopher Eisele
Affiliation:
Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall, 85748 Garching, Germany
Christoph E. Nebel
Affiliation:
Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall, 85748 Garching, Germany
Martin Stutzmann
Affiliation:
Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall, 85748 Garching, Germany
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Abstract

Amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells need efficient light trapping structures to achieve high efficiency. To this end, aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) as a transparent front contact was periodically structured. Solar cells with grating periods between 390 and 980 nm were realized. The structures were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and optical reflection. A simple formula for the wavelength where total internal reflection starts is deduced for each diffraction order. Solar cells with a periodic grating show a significant reduction in the overall reflectance which is comparable to cells with an optimized statistical texture.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 609: Symposium A – Amorphous & Heterogeneous Silicon Thin Films – 2000 , 2000 , A30.6
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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References

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