Improved conversion efficiency of amorphous Si solar cells using a mesoporous ZnO pattern

Abstract

To provide a front transparent electrode for use in highly efficient hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film solar cells, porous flat layer and micro-patterns of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle (NP) layers were prepared through ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) and deposited on Al-doped ZnO (AZO) layers. Through this, it was found that a porous micro-pattern of ZnO NPs dispersed in resin can optimize the light-trapping pattern, with the efficiency of solar cells based on patterned or flat mesoporous ZnO layers increased by 27% and 12%, respectively.

Advanced light trapping interface for a‐Si:H thin film

“…One common route to achieve light trapping in a-Si:H solar cells is the use of rough surfaces obtained either by texturing aluminum doped zinc oxide (Al:ZnO or AZO) in plenty of acidic solutions resulting in random textures with features geometry and sizes depending on the used acid and texturing time [8][9][10], nanoimprint lithography to obtain periodic Al:ZnO [11], utilizing the natural textures of Al:ZnO deposited by CVD method (AP-CVD) [12,13], or by texturing the glass substrate prior Al:ZnO deposition [14]. Serveral research groups have made use of rough Al:ZnO to enhance the short circuit current density (Jsc) of thin film silicon solar cells [15][16][17].…”