Work

Enhanced photon absorption and carrier generation in nanowire solar cells

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Overall performance of a thin film solar cell is determined by the efficiency of converting photons to electrons through light absorption, carrier generation, and carrier collection. Recently, photon management has emerged as a powerful tool to further boost this conversion efficiency. Here we propose a novel nanograting solar cell design that achieves enhanced broadband light absorption and carrier generation in conjunction with the reduced use of active and non-earth-abundant materials. A test using this design for the short circuit current density in CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells shows up to 250% enhancement when compared to the bare thin film cells. In addition, placing metal strips on top of the nanograting to act as the top electrode reduces the use of non-earth-abundant materials that is normally used as the transparent conducting materials. This novel solar cell design has the potential to become a new solar cell platform technology for various thin film solar cell systems.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.003733

Authors: Wei Wang, Shaomin Wu, Randy. J. Knize, Kitt Reinhardt, Yalin Lu, Shaochen Chen

Institutions: University of Science and Technology of China, United States Air Force Academy, United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research, University of California San Diego

Language: English

Topic: Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270