Coupled optical and electrical modeling of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells based on nanodent plasmonic substrates

Guo, R.T.; Huang, Hongtao; Chang, Pai‐Chun; Lu, Linfeng; Chen, Xiaoyuan; Yang, Xiaofei; Fan, Zhiyong; Zhu, Bicheng; Li, Dongdong

doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2014.05.021

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The arrows in the fi gures indicate the directions of electric fi eld and current density. [ 44 ] The generation rate from 650 nm light calculated for the c) conformal AZO, and d) conformal Ag structures plotted on a logarithmic scale, showing that the performance enhancement in the conformal Ag structure comes from an optical mode with an improved K i / K ratio for 650 nm incident light resulting in improved EIQE at that wavelength. The dashed lines indicate the edges of the doped a-Si:H regions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Guo et al investigated thin-fi lm a-Si:H solar cells based on nanodent plasmonic substrates with a coupled optical and electrical modeling method. [ 44 ] By comparing the electric fi elds and current densities in planar and nanostructured devices, they proved that the relatively weak electric fi eld localized in the device top corners would lead to a local current reversal and thus cause a reduction of V oc . The regions with different electric fi elds can be regarded as sub-cells that compose the whole cell in parallel or series.…”

Section: Distribution Of Photo-generated Carriermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 16,43 ] In addition to the above mentioned points, photo-carrier distribution is another factor to be considered when designing nanostructured solar energy harvesting devices, especially for PEC solar water splitting devices. [44][45][46] In this review, we will fi rstly summarize the progress of nanostructured solar energy harvesting devices with emphasis on introducing various nanotexturization strategies. Thereafter, we will discuss the key aspects when designing highly effi cient nanostructured solar energy harvesting devices, including PV thin fi lms nonuniformity on nanostructures, surface recombination, parasitic absorption and the importance of uniform distribution of photo-generated carriers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Progress and Design Concerns of Nanostructured Solar Energy Harvesting Devices

Leung

Zhang

Tavakoli

et al. 2016

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Integrating devices with nanostructures is considered a promising strategy to improve the performance of solar energy harvesting devices such as photovoltaic (PV) devices and photo-electrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting devices. Extensive efforts have been exerted to improve the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of such devices by utilizing novel nanostructures to revolutionize device structural designs. The thicknesses of light absorber and material consumption can be substantially reduced because of light trapping with nanostructures. Meanwhile, the utilization of nanostructures can also result in more effective carrier collection by shortening the photogenerated carrier collection path length. Nevertheless, performance optimization of nanostructured solar energy harvesting devices requires a rational design of various aspects of the nanostructures, such as their shape, aspect ratio, periodicity, etc. Without this, the utilization of nanostructures can lead to compromised device performance as the incorporation of these structures can result in defects and additional carrier recombination. The design guidelines of solar energy harvesting devices are summarized, including thin film non-uniformity on nanostructures, surface recombination, parasitic absorption, and the importance of uniform distribution of photo-generated carriers. A systematic view of the design concerns will assist better understanding of device physics and benefit the fabrication of high performance devices in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Distribution Of Photo-generated Carriermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Progress and Design Concerns of Nanostructured Solar Energy Harvesting Devices

Leung

Zhang

Tavakoli

et al. 2016

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“…Reducing i-layer thickness will suppress the lightinduced carriers' recombination loss, while the light absorption is also reduced. In order to comprise the carriers collection and optical absorption, a variety of random nanotextures [4] and periodic nanostructures including nanogratings [5,6], nanodomes [7][8][9][10], nanodents [11,12], nanovoids [13,14], nanoholes [15][16][17] nanopillars [18,19] nanospikes [20], nanorods [21] and inverted nanocones [22], have been developed to improve the light absorption capability while keeping the a-Si:H layer thickness as thin as possible. Metallic thin films are often integrated in these periodic structures, which can couple incident light into both the photonic and surface plasmon resonance modes in the absorption layer [11,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance optimization of flexible a-Si:H solar cells with nanotextured plasmonic substrate by tuning the thickness of oxide spacer layer

et al. 2015

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“…It has been reported that most of the traditional solar cells are based on silicon because of its stability, non-toxicity, welldeveloped technology and more abundance in nature. However, a major limitation if thinfilm solar cells are the poor absorption of light, as compared to wafer-based solar cells [6][7][8][9][10]. It is well established that light-trapping by increasing its optical path length inside the absorbing film, for obtaining high efficiency, is crucial for thin-film solar cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Nanoparticles and Nano Rod Arrays on Optical Generation Rate in Plasmonic-Based Solar Cells

Farhadnia

Rostami

Matloub

2017

IJOP

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ABSTRACT-In this article, the effect of plasmonics properties of metal nanorods and nanoparticles on solar cell performance were investigated and simulated. Due to the classic solar cell disadvantages, it seems that a plasmonic solar cell is one of these methods. In plasmonic solar cells, because of plasmonic effect, a high electric field builds around metal nanoparticles so that high conversion efficiency is available. In this study, it is shown that the near-field electromagnetic wave severely affects the generation rate, which handles the carrier's generation in the solar cell equations. By manipulating the plasmonic properties of nanoparticles or nanorods in solar cells structure, distribution of the electromagnetic fields are altered. In this work, optical power and generation rate related to the poynting vector is calculated. So, for improving the generation rate as an important parameter in solar cells, the alteration of nanoparticles or nanorods material, shape, inter-distance between them and medium material, are done. Finally, the comparison between classical solar cell and our improved structure is performed.

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Coupled optical and electrical modeling of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells based on nanodent plasmonic substrates

Cited by 26 publications

References 32 publications

Progress and Design Concerns of Nanostructured Solar Energy Harvesting Devices

Progress and Design Concerns of Nanostructured Solar Energy Harvesting Devices

Performance optimization of flexible a-Si:H solar cells with nanotextured plasmonic substrate by tuning the thickness of oxide spacer layer

Impacts of Nanoparticles and Nano Rod Arrays on Optical Generation Rate in Plasmonic-Based Solar Cells

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