scholarly journals Light Trapping with Silicon Light Funnel Arrays

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Prajapati ◽  
Yuval Nissay ◽  
Tamir Gabay ◽  
Gil Shalev
Keyword(s):  
Light Trapping ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Surface Element ◽  
Subwavelength Structures ◽  
Broadband Absorption ◽  
Substrate Complex ◽  
Light Concentration

Silicon light funnels are three-dimensional subwavelength structures in the shape of inverted cones with respect to the incoming illumination. Light funnel arrays can serve as an efficient absorbing layers on account of their light trapping capabilities associated with the presence of high density complex Mie modes. Specifically, light funnel arrays exhibit broadband absorption enhancement of the of the solar spectrum. In the current study, we numerically explore the optical coupling between surface light funnel arrays and underlying substrates. We show that the absorption in LF array-substrate complex is higher than the absorption in LF arrays of the same height (~10% increase). This, we suggest, imply that a LF array serves as an efficient surface element that imparts additional momentum components to the impinging illumination, and hence optically excites the substrate by near-field light concentration, excitation of traveling guided modes in the substrate and mode hybridization.

scholarly journals Optimal design of light trapping structure for broadband absorption enhancement in amorphous silicon solar cell

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (24) ◽  
pp. 247801
Author(s):  
Jia Yu-Kun ◽  
Yang Shi-E ◽  
Guo Qiao-Neng ◽  
Chen Yong-Sheng ◽  
Gao Xiao-Yong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cell ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Broadband Absorption ◽  
Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell

scholarly journals Advancing colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic technology

Nanophotonics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Cheng ◽  
Ebuka S. Arinze ◽  
Nathan Palmquist ◽  
Susanna M. Thon
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Nanoparticle Synthesis ◽  
Photon Absorption ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Photovoltaic Technology ◽  
Carrier Extraction ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

Abstract Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are attractive materials for solar cells due to their low cost, ease of fabrication and spectral tunability. Progress in CQD photovoltaic technology over the past decade has resulted in power conversion efficiencies approaching 10%. In this review, we give an overview of this progress, and discuss limiting mechanisms and paths for future improvement in CQD solar cell technology.We briefly summarize nanoparticle synthesis and film processing methods and evaluate the optoelectronic properties of CQD films, including the crucial role that surface ligands play in materials performance. We give an overview of device architecture engineering in CQD solar cells. The compromise between carrier extraction and photon absorption in CQD photovoltaics is analyzed along with different strategies for overcoming this trade-off. We then focus on recent advances in absorption enhancement through innovative device design and the use of nanophotonics. Several light-trapping schemes, which have resulted in large increases in cell photocurrent, are described in detail. In particular, integrating plasmonic elements into CQD devices has emerged as a promising approach to enhance photon absorption through both near-field coupling and far-field scattering effects. We also discuss strategies for overcoming the single junction efficiency limits in CQD solar cells, including tandem architectures, multiple exciton generation and hybrid materials schemes. Finally, we offer a perspective on future directions for the field and the most promising paths for achieving higher device efficiencies.

Robust Nanoscale Patterns for Thin Film Solar Cells Using Inverse Optimization of Nonuniformly Sampled Absorption Spectrum

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shima Hajimirza ◽  
John R. Howell
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Photon Absorption ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Sensitivity Assessment

This paper outlines several techniques for systematic and efficient optimization as well as sensitivity assessment to fabrication tolerances of surface texturing patterns in thin film amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells. The aim is to achieve maximum absorption enhancement. We report the joint optimization of several geometrical parameters of a three dimensional lattice of periodic square silver nanoparticles, and an absorbing thin layer of a-Si, using constraint optimization tools and numerical FDTD simulations. Global and local optimization methods, such as the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno Quasi-Newton (BFGS-QN) and Simulated Annealing (SA) are employed concurrently for solving the inverse near field radiation problem. The design of the silver patterned solar panel is optimized to yield maximum average enhancement in photon absorption over the solar spectrum. The optimization techniques are expedited and improved by using a novel nonuniform adaptive spectral sampling technique. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the optimally designed parameters of the solar structure is analyzed by postulating a probabilistic model for the errors introduced in the fabrication process. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and Unscented Transform (UT) techniques are used for this purpose.

Absorption Enhancement in Plasmonic Solar Cells by Incorporation of Periodic Nanopatterns

2011 ◽  
Vol 1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Wang ◽  
S. Wu ◽  
Y.L. Lu ◽  
Kitt Reinhardt ◽  
S.C. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Light Absorption ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Thin Film Solar Cells ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Enhancement Effect ◽  
Broadband Absorption ◽  
Polarization Insensitive ◽  
Plasmonic Solar Cells

ABSTRACTCurrently, the performances of thin film solar cells are limited by poor light absorption and carrier collection. In this research, large, broadband, and polarization-insensitive light absorption enhancement was realized via incorporation of different periodic nanopetterns. By studying the enhancement effect brought by different materials, dimensions, coverage, and dielectric environments of the metal nanopatterns, we analyzed the absorption enhancement mechanisms as well as optimization criteria for our designs. A test for totaling the absorption over the solar spectrum shows an up to ∼30% broadband absorption enhancement when comparing to conventional thin film cells.

scholarly journals Absorption-Enhanced Ultra-Thin Solar Cells Based on Horizontally Aligned p–i–n Nanowire Arrays

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueguang Yuan ◽  
Xiaoyu Chen ◽  
Xin Yan ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
Yangan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Refractive Index ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Nanowire Array ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
High Efficiency Solar Cells ◽  
Maximum Conversion Efficiency

A horizontally aligned GaAs p–i–n nanowire array solar cell is proposed and studied via coupled three-dimensional optoelectronic simulations. Benefiting from light-concentrating and light-trapping properties, the horizontal nanowire array yields a remarkable efficiency of 10.8% with a radius of 90 nm and a period of 5 radius, more than twice that of its thin-film counterpart with the same thickness. To further enhance the absorption, the nanowire array is placed on a low-refractive-index MgF2 substrate and capsulated in SiO2, which enables multiple reflection and reabsorption of light due to the refractive index difference between air/SiO2 and SiO2/MgF2. The absorption-enhancement structure increases the absorption over a broad wavelength range, resulting in a maximum conversion efficiency of 18%, 3.7 times higher than that of the thin-film counterpart, which is 3 times larger in GaAs material volume. This work may pave the way for the development of ultra-thin high-efficiency solar cells with very low material cost.

Broadband Absorption Enhancement in Graphene with Plasmonic Light Trapping

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Xiong ◽  
Xu Yang ◽  
Jianfa Zhang ◽  
Zhihong Zhu ◽  
Xiaodong Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Trapping ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Broadband Absorption

Efficient light trapping and broadband absorption of the solar spectrum in nanopillar arrays decorated with deep-subwavelength sidewall features

Nanoscale ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (39) ◽  
pp. 18613-18621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yevgeny Faingold ◽  
Shay Fadida ◽  
Ashish Prajapati ◽  
Jordi Llobet ◽  
Mariana Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Trapping ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Broadband Absorption ◽  
Nanopillar Arrays

Deep subwavelength sidewall scalloping (DSSS) on the broadband absorption of nanopillar arrays.

Broadband absorption enhancement via light trapping in periodically patterned polymeric solar cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 013102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ma'ayan Rumbak ◽  
Iris Visoly-Fisher ◽  
Rafi Shikler
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Absorption Enhancement ◽  
Broadband Absorption
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