Angular optical behavior of photonic-crystal-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Theoretical modeling of the incidence angle dependence is important for the performance evaluation of solar cells especially when they employ structural photonics that enhance their aesthetics for building-integrated photovoltaic applications. We present an optical model based on transfer matrix method, which is tailored for the analysis of the angular optical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) that incorporate a porous one-dimensional photonic-crystal (1DPC) back reflector. We provide complete mathematical description of the angular optics and electromagnetic energetics of DSSC, including solutions that avoid numerical instabilities in the case of thick, strongly light-absorbing layers. The model showed excellent quantitative agreement with angle-dependent spectral transmittance measurements recorded from complete DSSCs, allowing detailed analysis of the light harvesting enhancement by the dye provided by back-reflection of light from the 1DPC. Determining the ratio of the device transmittance measured with and without a 1DPC is proposed as a simple and practical way to determine the internal reflectance of the 1DPC embedded in the device structure. The reported model provides an accurate description of the coherent angular optics of DSSCs, applicable for situations where light scattering in the device structure can be neglected.

Efficiency Enhancement in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using 1D Photonic Crystal

“…A classical interaction exists between the electromagnetic radiation and a finite onedimensional non-periodic multilayer, where the corresponding Maxwell's equations are solved using TMM formalism. This interaction system fulfils the same conditions proposed by the reflection, transmission and absorption, within the layers, and optical interference between incoming and outgoing optical electric fields [26].…”

Novel smart window using photonic crystal for energy saving

“…Where N = 6 has the ability to block much amount of IR in summer, it will be recommended after increasing the incident angle to 40 degrees to adjust the left edge of the PBG at the end of the visible light range and the beginning of IR range. Besides, the transmittance of unpolarized sunlight (blue line) is calculated according to the following equation 30 :…”

“…As the incident sunlight is completely unpolarized, each polarized component (TE and TM components) has its own proper behavior inside the proposed design 30 . The transmittance of the proposed smart windows for TE and TM electromagnetic waves will be calculated by the transfer matrix method (TMM) to investigate how the proposed smart windows react to incident waves [31][32][33][34] : where where θ k , n k , a k , p 0 , and p s are the incident angle of the electromagnetic waves, the dielectric constant, the transfer matrix element, p 0 and p s related to air and substrate.…”