Technologies to Reduce Optical Losses of Silicon Solar Cells

Abstract:

Optical losses chiefly effect the power from a solar cell by lowering the short-circuit current. There are a number of ways to reduce the optical losses, which includes top contact coverage of the cell surface can be minimized, anti-reflection coatings can be used on the top surface of the cell, reflection can be reduced by surface texturing, and the optical path length in the solar cell may be increased by a combination of surface texturing and light trapping. This work discusses all of the methods to reduce optical losses of silicon solar cells. Surface texturing, either in combination with an anti-reflection coating or by itself, can be used to minimize reflection, but the large reflection loss can be reduced significantly via a suitable anti-reflecting coatings. Significant improvement of the short circuit current after light trapping design was observed. In addition to these methods, top contact design of silicon solar cells is important. The design of the top contact involves the minimization of the finger and busbar resistance, and the overall reduction of losses associated with the top contact.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 953-954)
• Pages: 91-94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.953-954.91
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Yu Qin Gu, Chun Rong Xue, Ming Liang Zheng
• Keywords: Antireflection Coating, Lambertian Rear Reflectors, Light Trapping, Silicon Solar Cell, Surface Texturing

References

[1] D.K. Ferry, J.P. Bird, Electronic materials and devices, Academic Press, San Diego, (2001).

[2] Green M A. 1982. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 288 p.1.

[3] J. Pla´ , M. Tamasi, R. Rizzoli, M. Losurdo, E. Centurioni, C. Summonte, F. Rubinelli, Thin Solid Films 425 (2003) 185.

DOI: 10.1016/s0040-6090(02)01143-4

[4] F. Fertig, E. Franklin, Proceedings of the 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Milan, Italy, 2007, p.326–329.

[5] Green M A, Emery K, Hishikawa Y, et al. Progress in photovoltaics: research and applications, 2011, 20(1): 12-20.

[6] M.A. Green et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 44 (1984) 1163.

[7] SHEN Jun, WU Xiao-xian, XIE Zh-i yong, etal. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2007, 28(9): 943-946.

[8] ANG Yong-qiang, HU-Xiaoyun, MIAO Zhong-hai, et al. Acta Photonica Sinica, 2008, 37(6): 1165-1168.

[9] J. Pla´ , M. Barrera, F. Rubinelli, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 22 (2007) 1122.

[10] Green M A. 2003. Third generation photovoltaics: Advanced Solar Energy Conversion[M]. Heidelberg: Springer.

[11] A. V. Shah, H. Schade, M. Vanecek, J. Meier, E. Vallat-Sauvain, N. Wyrsch, U. Kroll, C. Droz and J. Bailat: vol. 12, no. 2 – 3, p.113 – 142, Mar. (2004).

DOI: 10.1002/pip.533

[12] P.H. Berning, Theory and calculation of optical thin Þlms, in: Physics of Thin Films Collec., vol. 1, Academic Press, New York, 1963, p.69.

[13] R.J. Ong, J.T. Dawley and P.G. Clem: submitted to Journal of Materials Research (2003).

[14] E. Fornies, C. Zaldo, J.M. Albella, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 87 (2005) 583-593.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2004.07.040

[15] M.A. Gonsalvez, R.M. Nieminen, New Journal of Physics 5 (2003) 100. 1-100. 28.