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Light Trapping in μc-Si:H Thin-film Solar Cells by Back Surface Reflector with Grating Structure Fabricated by Self-ordering Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Hitoshi Sai ,
Hiroyuki Fujiwara  and
Michio Kondo
Hitoshi Sai
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Photovoltaics, Central 2, Umezono, 1-1-1, Tsukuba, 305-8568, Japan, +81-29-861-5498, +81-29-861-3367
Hiroyuki Fujiwara
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Intitute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, 305-8568, Japan
Michio Kondo
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Intitute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, 305-8568, Japan
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Abstract

Back surface reflectors (BSRs) with grating structures have been developed to enhance light trapping in thin-film microcrystalline Si (μc-Si:H) solar cells. As a grating structure, a periodic honeycomb-like dimple pattern with periods of 100 ˜ 450 nm has been fabricated on Al substrates by a self-ordering process using anodic oxidation of Al. A clear diffraction effect by the grating structure has been confirmed on the patterned Al using angle-dependent reflection measurement. From quantum efficiency measurements, we found that the periodically patterned BSR can confine the incident light effectively, especially at longer wavelengths. Nevertheless, short circuit current densities obtained from the patterned BSRs are rather comparable to that obtained from the random textured substrate. For further improvement of the light-trapping effect by the grating structure, it is necessary to realize higher diffraction efficiencies while maintaining high total reflectivity on the BSR structure.

Keywords

photovoltaicthin filmtexture
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1101: Symposium KK – Light Management in Photovoltaic Devices–Theory and Practice , 2008 , 1101-KK13-04
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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