Publication

Experimental Evaluation of the Light Trapping Potential of Optical Nanostructures for Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Christophe Ballif
2012
Journal Articles

Abstract

We describe a method based on nanoimprinting and non-absorbing insulating silicon nitride electrodes for evaluating the light trapping potential of photonic nanostructures for thin-film silicon solar cells. We validate our method by relating the optical reflectance of the full solar cell stack to the external quantum efficiency of functional cells. Our method provides a useful experimental tool to compare different nanostructures circumventing complications arising from parasitic absorption and electrical cell performance.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/39637065-9913-49ae-aa89-309c218f6768

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Christophe Ballif
2012
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/39637065-9913-49ae-aa89-309c218f6768

About this result

Related concepts (28)

Solar-cell efficiency

Solar-cell efficiency refers to the portion of energy in the form of sunlight that can be converted via photovoltaics into electricity by the solar cell. The efficiency of the solar cells used in a photovoltaic system, in combination with latitude and climate, determines the annual energy output of the system. For example, a solar panel with 20% efficiency and an area of 1 m2 will produce 200 kWh/yr at Standard Test Conditions if exposed to the Standard Test Condition solar irradiance value of 1000 W/m2 for 2.

Solar cell

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical phenomenon. It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as current, voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Individual solar cell devices are often the electrical building blocks of photovoltaic modules, known colloquially as solar panels.

Thin-film solar cell

Thin-film solar cells are made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin films or TFs) of photovoltaic material onto a substrate, such as glass, plastic or metal. Thin-film solar cells are typically a few nanometers (nm) to a few microns (μm) thick–much thinner than the wafers used in conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) based solar cells, which can be up to 200 μm thick. Thin-film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies, including cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and amorphous thin-film silicon (a-Si, TF-Si).

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Experimental Evaluation of the Light Trapping Potential of Optical Nanostructures for Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

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