Title
Mechanisms Of Enhanced Optical Absorption For Ultrathin Silicon Solar Microcells With An Integrated Nanostructured Backside Reflector
Keywords
light trapping; optical nanostructures; photovoltaics
Abstract
This paper investigates mechanisms of enhanced light absorption exhibited by ultrathin Si solar microcells integrated with a periodically nanostructured, semitransparent metallic reflector. This backside reflector comprises periodic nanoscale relief features formed by soft-imprint lithography with a thin (∼35 nm) coating of Au. The work shows that microcells placed in direct contact above the nanostructured reflector's surface creates Fabry-Pérot cavities, which traps impinging light inside the Si slab via the excitation of cavity modes. Experimental measurements show that the short-circuit current and efficiency values for devices incorporating this thin, semitransparent backside reflector outperform similar Si microcells integrated with a planar thick (∼300 nm) opaque mirror by ∼10-15% because of enhanced absorption. Computational modeling that is supported by experimental measurements reveal that the dominant methods of enhancement stem from a complex interplay between backside diffraction/scattering and Fabry-Pérot resonances. These same data demonstrate that plasmonic interactions contribute minimally to the optical enhancements seen. © 2013 American Chemical Society.
Publication Date
5-22-2013
Publication Title
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume
5
Issue
10
Number of Pages
4239-4246
Document Type
Article
Personal Identifier
scopus
DOI Link
https://doi.org/10.1021/am400408g
Copyright Status
Unknown
Socpus ID
84878310008 (Scopus)
Source API URL
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84878310008
STARS Citation
Corcoran, Christopher J.; Kang, Somi; Li, Lanfang; Guo, Xiaoying; and Chanda, Debashis, "Mechanisms Of Enhanced Optical Absorption For Ultrathin Silicon Solar Microcells With An Integrated Nanostructured Backside Reflector" (2013). Scopus Export 2010-2014. 6980.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/scopus2010/6980