Cost Impacts of Anti-Reflection Coatings on Silicon Solar Cells

1996 ◽  
Vol 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Wong ◽  
Art Waugh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Photovoltaic Effect ◽  
Golden Rule ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Production Volume ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
The Cost

AbstractDespite the early discovery of the Photovoltaic effect by Bechquerel almost 107 years ago, its commercial value had never been seriously considered because of its high cost in production and low in energy conversion efficiency. A familiar predicament has restrained demand for photovoltaic application: People won't use them until they are affordable, but they won't get affordable until there is a mass market for them. As has happened in other expensive markets, businesses are desperate to crack the conundrum. Since the oil shortage in the 70s, crystalline solar cell efficiency has increased from 8% to over 13% to date on 100 mm2 commercial silicon cells by refining the process with advanced device technologies. Together with increased production volume, the cost per watt has been reduced from over $ 8 in the 80's to as low as $3 to day. However, the cost is still considered too high to compete with fossil fuel energy. Further cost reduction is necessary by improving the cell and module conversion efficiency. The increase in cell efficiency and the process to achieve the goal, however, have to follow the golden rule of economics that the operational cost is a fraction of the profit in return. It is shown numerically in this paper that Anti Reflection (AR) coating on silicon solar cells by Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (APCVD) technique for large volume production could have over 650% profit return.

scholarly journals SiO2Antireflection Coatings Fabricated by Electron-Beam Evaporation for Black Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minghua Li ◽  
Hui Shen ◽  
Lin Zhuang ◽  
Daming Chen ◽  
Xinghua Liang
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Bottom Layer ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Electron Beam Evaporation ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Antireflection Coatings ◽  
Efficiency Increase

In this work we prepared double-layer antireflection coatings (DARC) by using the SiO2/SiNx:H heterostructure design. SiO2thin films were deposited by electron-beam evaporation on the conventional solar cell with SiNx:H single-layer antireflection coatings (SARC), while to avoid the coverage of SiO2on the front side busbars, a steel mask was utilized as the shelter. The thickness of the SiNx:H as bottom layer was fixed at 80 nm, and the varied thicknesses of the SiO2as top layer were 105 nm and 122 nm. The results show that the SiO2/SiNx:H DARC have a much lower reflectance and higher external quantum efficiency (EQE) in short wavelengths compared with the SiNx:H SARC. A higher energy conversion efficiency of 17.80% was obtained for solar cells with SiO2(105 nm)/SiNx:H (80 nm) DARC, an absolute conversion efficiency increase of 0.32% compared with the conventional single SiNx:H-coated cells.

Water as infrared filter for silicon solar cell efficiency enhancement for Kerman province of Iran as a talent region for solar energy production

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bagher Askari ◽  
Mohammad Reza Bahrampour ◽  
Vahid Mirzaei ◽  
Amir Khosro Beheshti Marnani ◽  
Mirhabibi Mohsen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Efficiency Enhancement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency

Purpose The aim of this paper is to apply a watery infrared filter for silicon solar cell efficiency enhancement in Kerman province of Iran as a talent region for solar energy production. Design/methodology/approach With this research, the water is applied as a filter for silicon solar cells in different volumes and thicknesses. Findings The obtained results showed that using various amounts of water could be a suitable choice for increasing the efficiency of silicon solar cells. Originality/value Other wavelength regions just cause the increase in the entropy and decrease in the efficiency. With this research, the water is applied as a filter for silicon solar cell in different volumes and thickness. The obtained results showed that using different thicknesses of water could be suitable choice for increasing the efficiency of silicon solar cell.

The Business of Fast ALD Equipment for Depositing Alumina Passivation Layers on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

2011 ◽  
Vol 1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ad Vermeer ◽  
Roger Gortzen ◽  
P. Poodt ◽  
F. Roozeboom
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Atomic Layer ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Alumina Layer ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Cell Efficiency

ABSTRACTAtomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a gas phase deposition technique for depositing very high quality thin films with an unsurpassed conformality. The main drawback of ALD however is the very low deposition rate (~ 1 nm/min). Recently, record deposition rates for alumina of up to 1 nm/s were reached using spatial ALD, while maintaining the typical assets regarding film quality as obtained by conventional, slow ALD [1]. This allows for ALD at high throughput numbers.One interesting application is passivation of crystalline silicon solar cells. Applying a thin alumina layer is reported to increase solar cell efficiency and enables the use of thinner wafers, thus reducing the main cost factor [2]. In this paper we report on the latest progress made by SoLayTec that delivered a working prototype of a system realizing full area single sided deposition of alumina on 156 x 156 mm2, mono- and multi crystalline silicon wafers for solar cell applications. The alumina layers showed excellent passivation. Based on this concept, a high-throughput ALD deposition tool is being developed targeting throughput numbers of up to 3000 wafers/hr. Finally, we report on the process of commercializing this technology.

scholarly journals The Viability of Organic Dyes in Luminescent Down-Shifting Layers for the Enhancement of Si Solar Cell Efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 995 ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
Aaron Glenn ◽  
Conor Mc Loughlin ◽  
Hind Ahmed ◽  
Hoda Akbari ◽  
Subhash Chandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Organic Dyes ◽  
Polyvinyl Butyral ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Si Solar Cell ◽  
Si Solar Cells

The main energy losses in solar cells are related to spectral losses where high energy photons are not used efficiently, and energy is lost via thermalization which reduces the solar cell’s overall efficiency. A way to tackle this is to introduce a luminescent down-shifting layer (LDS) to convert these high energy photons into a lower energy bracket helping the solar cell to absorb them and thus generating a greater power output. In this paper, lumogen dye Violet 570 has been used as LDS coated films of 10μm and 60μm placed on top of Si solar cells. The dye was incorporated into polymer films of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) and Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) after which they were tested for their absorption, transmission and emission properties. Once optimised layers had been determined, they were deposited directly onto silicon solar cells and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the Si solar cells were measured with and without the LDS layers. The resulting graphs have shown an increase of up to 2.9% in the overall EQE efficiency after the lumogen films had been applied.

scholarly journals Performance of Silicon Nanowire Solar Cells with Phosphorus-Diffused Emitters

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingsheng Zeng ◽  
Xuegong Yu ◽  
Yangang Han ◽  
Deren Yang
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Silicon Nanowire ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Surface Recombination ◽  
Etching Technique ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency

Vertical silicon nanowire (Si NW) arrays on a Si (100) substrate have been prepared by using a low-cost and facile Ag-assisted chemical etching technique. The reflectance of Si NW arrays is very low (<1%) in the spectral range from 400 to 1000 nm. By phosphorus diffusion into Si NW arrays to fabricate solar cells, the power conversion efficiency of 8.84% has been achieved. This power conversion efficiency is much higher than that of the planar cell with the similar celling technology. It is found that the efficiency of Si NW solar cells is intimately associated with their excellent antireflection property. The surface recombination of Si NWs is the main obstacle for the improvement of solar cell efficiency. The current results are helpful to the advancement of the application of Si NWs in photovoltaics.

scholarly journals Advanced Selection Materials in Solar Cell Efficiency and their Properties- A Comprehensive Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Alarifi
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Deposition Process ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Hydrophobic Coating ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
The Cost

Solar cell layers technology has achieved global standing in the solar cell layers deposition process, and it covers the innovative methods and techniques in significant applications. Recent solar cell layers technology has an advanced interest in a refined approach to enhance performance and highlights the importance of recent proficient procedures for manufacturing. For example, the application is used to search for novel materials for solar cells' layers to clarify the current energy crisis. The technological process and various types of solar cells depend on climate change. Among them, layers of solar cells and silicon wafer solar cells are very encouraging. Solar cell layers technology has led to solar cells being a more reasonable active option in design and production. The productivities facilitated by new solar cells still need to be enhanced for the various processes involved in the additional enhancement from Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) microfilms to solar cell crystal structure dye-sensitized solar cells. The hydrophobic coating works as an anti-dust coating, enhancing efficiency and decreasing the cost of cleaning solar cells. In Saudi Arabia Majmaah City, most solar projects are in dry regions, where the dusty weather reduces solar cell efficiency. Therefore, combining these two properties and applying an anti-reflective and superhydrophobic coating will increase solar cell efficiency by 20%. Solar cells' crystal structure results are substituted with layers or new materials to balance environmental impact and toxic nature.

scholarly journals Enhanced Electrical Properties of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells via Nano-Composite Polyvinyl-Alcohol/Titanium Dioxide

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-564
Author(s):  
Ali Kadhim Naser ◽  
Dhafer Manea H. Al-Shamkhee ◽  
Qahtan Adnan Abed
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Polyvinyl Alcohol ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Coating Film ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Energy Bandgap ◽  
The Impact

Reflection loss and solar cell temperature both have a significant impact on solar cell efficiency and, consequently, on power generation. Herein, the aim is to investigate into the impact of Nanocomposite Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) on polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The solvent casting method is employed to prepare nanocomposite TiO2/PVA for deposition on the front side of the solar cell. The Tauc plot is used to investigate the influence of TiO2 nanoparticle concentration (10-20nm) on the energy bandgap of a nanocomposite. To test the optical properties of the solar cell after depositing the Nanocomposite coating film and to confirm the suspension of TiO2 in PVA and construct a Nanocomposite, an ultraviolet-visible spectrometer and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer are provided. The results show that increasing the TiO2 in the TiO2/PVA Nanocomposite increases the energy bandgap. The Ultraviolet-Visible spectrometer observes that the Nanocomposite films absorb the Ultraviolet wavelength and transmittance at the visible wavelength. Finally, it found the lowest reflection obtained was 3.9% for 0.2wt% TiO2 in TiO2/PVA nanocomposite and the enhancement of the solar cell efficiency was (+2.3%).

Defect Density Profiling in Light-Soaked and Annealed Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Crandall ◽  
Jeffrey Yang ◽  
Subhendu Guha
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Defect Density ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell Efficiency ◽  
Cell Efficiency ◽  
Hydrogenated Amorphous

ABSTRACTThe fundamental ingredient lacking in solar cell modeling is the spatial distribution of defects. To gain this information, we use drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP) on hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells. We find the following: Near the p-i interface the defect density is high, decreasing rapidly into the interior, reaching low values in the central region of the cell, and rising rapidly again at the n-i interface. The states in the central region are neutral dangling-bond defects whose density agrees with those typically found in similar films. However, those near the interfaces with the doped layers are charged dangling bonds in agreement with the predictions of defect thermodynamics. We correlate the changes in solar cell efficiency owing to intense illumination with changes in the defect density throughout the cell. Defects in the central region of the cell increase to values typically found in companion films. We describe the measurements and interpretation of DLCP for solar cells with the aid of a solar cell simulation.

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