Optical simulation of photonic random textures for thin-film solar cells

K. Bittkau; A. Hoffmann

doi:10.1117/12.2059021

15 May 2014 Optical simulation of photonic random textures for thin-film solar cells

K. Bittkau, A. Hoffmann

Proceedings Volume 9140, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems V; 91400L (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2059021
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2014, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

We investigate light-scattering textures for the application in thin-film solar cells which consist of a random texture, as commonly applied in thin-film solar cells, that are superimposed with a two-dimensional grating structure. Those textures are called photonic random texture. A scalar optical model is applied to describe the light-scattering properties of those textures. With this model, we calculate the angular resolved light scattering into silicon in transmission at the front contact and for reflection at the back contact of a microcrystalline silicon solar cell. A quantity to describe the lighttrapping efficiency is derived and verified by rigorous diffraction theory. We show that this quantity is well suitable to predict the short-circuit current density in the light-trapping regime, where the absorptance is low. By varying the period, height and shape of the unit cell, we optimize the grating structure with respect to the total generated current density. The maximal predicted improvement in the spectral range from 600-900 nm is found to be about 3 mA/cm² compared to the standard random texture and about 6 mA/cm² compared to a flat solar cell.

Citation Download Citation

K. Bittkau and A. Hoffmann "Optical simulation of photonic random textures for thin-film solar cells", Proc. SPIE 9140, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems V, 91400L (15 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2059021

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available