Optimal light trapping in ultra-thin photonic crystal crystalline silicon solar cells

Shrestha Basu Mallick; Mukul Agrawal; Peter Peumans

doi:10.1117/12.854122

18 May 2010 Optimal light trapping in ultra-thin photonic crystal crystalline silicon solar cells

Shrestha Basu Mallick, Mukul Agrawal, Peter Peumans

Proceedings Volume 7725, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems III; 772503 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.854122
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2010, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Using thin films of crystalline silicon to make solar cells reduces the cost by reducing the amount of material needed and allowing poorer quality material with shorter carrier diffusion lengths to be used. However, the indirect band gap of silicon requires that a light trapping approach be used to maximize optical absorption. Here, a photonic crystal (PC) based approach is used to maximize solar light harvesting in a 400 nm-thick silicon layer by tuning the coupling strength of incident radiation to quasiguided modes over a broad spectral range. The structure consists of a double layer PC. We show an enhancement of maximum achievable photocurrent density from 7.1 mA/cm² for an unstructured film to 21.8 mA/cm² for a structured film for normal incidence. This photocurrent density value approaches the limit of 26.5 mA/cm², obtained using the Yablonovitch light trapping limit for the same volume of active material.

Citation Download Citation

Shrestha Basu Mallick, Mukul Agrawal, and Peter Peumans "Optimal light trapping in ultra-thin photonic crystal crystalline silicon solar cells", Proc. SPIE 7725, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems III, 772503 (18 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.854122

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