Light management through guided-mode resonances in thin-film silicon solar cells

Tanzina Khaleque; Robert Magnusson

doi:10.1117/1.JNP.8.083995

6 March 2014 Light management through guided-mode resonances in thin-film silicon solar cells

Tanzina Khaleque, Robert Magnusson

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Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 8, Issue 1, 083995 (March 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JNP.8.083995

Abstract

We theoretically explain and experimentally demonstrate light trapping in thin-film solar cells through guided-mode resonance (GMR) effects. Resonant field enhancement and propagation path elongation lead to enhanced solar absorption. We fabricate nanopatterned solar cells containing embedded 300-nm period, one-dimensional gratings. The grating pattern is fabricated on a glass substrate using laser interference lithography followed by a transparent conducting oxide coating as a top contact. A ∼320-nm thick p-i-n hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cell is deposited over the patterned substrate followed by bottom contact deposition. We measure optical and electrical properties of the resonant solar cells. Compared to a planar reference solar cell, around 35% integrated absorption enhancement is observed over the 450 to 750-nm wavelength range. This light-management method results in enhanced short-circuit current density of 14.8 mA/cm ² , which is a ∼40% improvement over planar solar cells. Our experimental demonstration proves the potential of simple and well-designed GMR features in thin-film solar cells.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Tanzina Khaleque and Robert Magnusson "Light management through guided-mode resonances in thin-film silicon solar cells," Journal of Nanophotonics 8(1), 083995 (6 March 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JNP.8.083995

Published: 6 March 2014

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