Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T15:49:45.363Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fabrication of Photonic Crystal based Back Reflectors for Light Management and Enhanced Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Benjamin Curtin ,
Rana Biswas  and
Vikram Dalal
Benjamin Curtin
Affiliation:
[email protected], Iowa State University, Microelectronics Research Center; Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ames, Iowa, United States
Rana Biswas
Affiliation:
[email protected], Iowa State University, Electrical and Computer Engr., Ames, Iowa, United States
Vikram Dalal
Affiliation:
[email protected], Iowa State University, Electrical and Computer Engr., Ames, Iowa, United States
Get access

Abstract

Photonic crystal based back-reflectors are an attractive solution for light management and enhancing optical absorption in thin film solar cells, without undesirable losses. We have fabricated prototype photonic crystal back-reflectors using photolithographic methods and reactive-ion etching. The photonic crystal back-reflector has a triangular lattice symmetry, a thickness of 250 nm, and a pitch of 765 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrate high quality long range periodicity. An a-Si:H solar cell device was grown on this back-reflector using standard PECVD techniques. Measurements demonstrate strong diffraction of light and high diffuse reflectance by the photonic crystal back-reflector. The photonic crystal back-reflector increases the average photon collection by ˜9% in terms of normalized external quantum efficiency, relative to a reference device on a stainless steel substrate with an Ag coated back surface.

Keywords

thin filmSienergy generation
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1153: Symposium A – Amorphous and Polycrystalline Thin Film Silicon Science and Technology–2009 , 2009 , 1153-A07-15
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Yan, B. Owens, J. M. Jiang, C. Guha, S. Materials Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 862, A23.3 (2005).Google Scholar
2 Yablonovitch, E. J. Opt. Soc. Am. 72, 899(1982).Google Scholar
3 Nelson, J. The Physics of Solar Cells, (Imperial College Press, London, 2003), p. 279.Google Scholar
4 Ferlauto, A.S. Ferreira, G. M. Pearce, J. M. Wronski, C. R. Collins, R. W. Deng, X. Ganguly, G. J. Appl. Phys. 92, 2424(2002).Google Scholar
5 Zeng, L. Yi, Y. Hong, C. Liu, J. Feng, N. Duan, X. Kimmerling, L.C. Alamariu, B.A. Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 111111(2006); Materials Res. Soc. Symp. 862, A12.3 (2005). L Zeng et al, Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 221105 (2008).Google Scholar
6 Biswas, R. Zhou, D. J. Appl. Phys. 103, 093102(2008).Google Scholar