Nanoimprint-textured Glass Superstrates for Light Trapping in Crystalline Silicon thin-film Solar Cells

Potential of interdigitated back-contact silicon heterojunction solar cells for liquid phase crystallized silicon on glass with efficiency above 14%

“…In order to further increase Jsc, it would be effective to reduce optical losses, e.g. decreasing ITO thickness, using nano imprinting at front Si surface [41][42][43][44][45], or optimization of back surface texturing. Optimization of Nd is also a crucial step to increase cell efficiency.…”

Liquid Glass for Photovoltaics: Multifunctional Front Cover Glass for Solar Modules

“…4 As an alternative to ARCs, micron-scale front-side textures at the air/ glass interface have been suggested in the literature, which boast additional benefit of demonstrating high angular stability, a feature that is of high importance for realistic operation conditions. 5,6 Such front-side textures are realized either by applying textured light management foils 6−9 or annealed SiO 2 sol−gel coatings, 10,11 as well as texturing the glass surface itself. 12,13 Having a look at the comparison of these approaches in the context of the fabrication of optical concepts in Table 1, we highlight that the former approach promises a straightforward implementation, but the combination of durability, longterm stability, and high transparency of foils is limited under outdoor conditions.…”

“…25 Sol−gel coatings offer a similar route to apply textures to the front side of solar modules via nanoimprint lithography as light management foils. 10 They eliminate the use of thermally unstable polymeric materials by employing a silica sol−gel with a high thermal stability. 11 However, long-term stability of this add-on approach may not be guaranteed since the reported issues of cracking, when applied to micron-scale textures, 11 imply the expansion of cracks and delamination under the natural thermal cycling in a humid atmosphere.…”

“…Thin-film antireflection coatings (ARCs) are among the most common approaches to reduce reflection losses . As an alternative to ARCs, micron-scale front-side textures at the air/glass interface have been suggested in the literature, which boast additional benefit of demonstrating high angular stability, a feature that is of high importance for realistic operation conditions. , Such front-side textures are realized either by applying textured light management foils − or annealed SiO 2 sol–gel coatings, , as well as texturing the glass surface itself. , Having a look at the comparison of these approaches in the context of the fabrication of optical concepts in Table , we highlight that the former approach promises a straightforward implementation, but the combination of durability, long-term stability, and high transparency of foils is limited under outdoor conditions. − Texturing a glass surface, however, requires complex processes that involve wet etching, usually using hydrofluoric acid limiting the freedom of design due to isotropic etching behavior, low-throughput precision glass molding, or dry etching. ,,− Laser structuring of glasses has been achieved via the use of laser-assisted etching technologies . The resultant structures are unfortunately too rough for optical applications and require intensive postprocessing .…”

“…The resultant structures are unfortunately too rough for optical applications and require intensive postprocessing . Sol–gel coatings offer a similar route to apply textures to the front side of solar modules via nanoimprint lithography as light management foils . They eliminate the use of thermally unstable polymeric materials by employing a silica sol–gel with a high thermal stability .…”