Nanostructures for Light Trapping in Thin Film Solar Cells

Amalathas, Amalraj Peter; Alkaisi, Maan M.

doi:10.3390/mi10090619

Cited by 124 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 153 publications

(181 reference statements)

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“…Using this strategy, by incorporating the solar cell with an Al NP array, the absorption rate and current density of thin-film GaAs solar cells were significantly enhanced up to 0.7983 and 25.77 mA/cm 2 , respectively [19]. Other strategies using nanostructured plasmonic thin films and metallic grating structures were proposed to effectively enhance light coupling, trapping, and absorption in ultrathin solar cells [20][21][22][23][24]. An average absorption of 90% over a broadband of 400 to 900 nm along with near independence of light polarization and an incident angle over a range of 0 • -75 • was achieved using a thin plasmonic cavity consisting of a 30 nm thick Au metallic mesh electrode with a subwavelength hole-array [25].…”

Section: Light Trappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

et al. 2020

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Issues related to global energy and environment as well as health crisis are currently some of the greatest challenges faced by humanity, which compel us to develop new pollution-free and sustainable energy sources, as well as next-generation biodiagnostic solutions. Optical functional nanostructures that manipulate and confine light on a nanometer scale have recently emerged as leading candidates for a wide range of applications in solar energy conversion and biosensing. In this review, recent research progress in the development of photonic and plasmonic nanostructures for various applications in solar energy conversion, such as photovoltaics, photothermal conversion, and photocatalysis, is highlighted. Furthermore, the combination of photonic and plasmonic nanostructures for developing high-efficiency solar energy conversion systems is explored and discussed. We also discuss recent applications of photonic–plasmonic-based biosensors in the rapid management of infectious diseases at point-of-care as well as terahertz biosensing and imaging for improving global health. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future prospects associated with the existing solar energy conversion and biosensing systems.

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Section: Light Trappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

et al. 2020

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“…In this work, we report a Cu 2-x S NRs-PVA gel approach, comprising photothermal generators (Cu 2-x S NRs) [ 23 ] and a floatable PVA supporting base [ 24 ]. Copper chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals were considered as the most promising green and sustainable photothermal agents, due to their low cost, high photo-stability, and high absorption cross-section, which could efficiently convert solar energy into heat [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The hierarchical structure in PVA hydrogel, which consists of big channels, capillary channels, and micro holes, can efficiently replenish and transport water into confined areas for localized heating [ 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seawater Desalination by Interfacial Solar Vapor Generation Method Using Plasmonic Heating Nanocomposites

Rao

Tang

et al. 2020

Micromachines

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With the ever-growing demand in fresh water supply, great efforts have been devoted to developing sustainable systems which could generate fresh water continuously. Solar vapor generation is one of the promising strategies which comprise an unlimited energy source and efficient solar-to-heat generators for overcoming fresh water scarcity. However, current solar vapor generation systems suffer either from inefficient utilization of solar energy or an expensive fabrication process. In this paper, we introduced a nano-plasmonic approach, i.e., a floatable nanocompoiste where copper sulfide nanorods (Cu2-xS NRs) are embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, for solar-to-vapor generation. A high solar vapor generation efficiency of ~87% and water evaporation rate of 1.270 kg m−2 h−1 were achieved under simulated solar irradiation of 1 sun. With the illumination of natural daylight, seawater was purified using Cu2-xS NRs-PVA gel, with high purity, as distilled drinking water. The plasmonic nanocomposites demonstrated here are easy to fabricate and highly efficient for solar vapor generation, illustrating a potential solution for future seawater desalination.

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“…Chemical sensors based on semiconductor nanostructures are expected to have a significantly enhanced performance compared to thin films, due to their high surface-volume ratio. They are expected to be more stable and sensitive [6]. It would also reduce the response and recovery time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of Less than 20 nm SnO Nanowires Using an Anodic Aluminum Oxide Template for Gas Sensing

et al. 2020

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Stannous oxide (SnO) nanowires were synthesized by a template and catalyst-free thermal oxidation process. After annealing a Sn nanowires-embedded anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template in air, we obtained a large amount of SnO nanowires. SnO nanowires were first prepared by electrochemical deposition and an oxidization method based on an AAO template. The preparation of SnO nanowires used aluminum sheet (purity 99.999%) and then a two-step anodization procedure to obtain a raw alumina mold. Finally, transparent alumina molds (AAO template) were obtained by reaming, soaking with phosphoric acid for 20 min, and a stripping process. We got a pore size of < 20 nm on the transparent alumina mold. In order to meet electroplating needs, we produced a platinum film on the bottom surface of the AAO template by using a sputtering method as the electrode of electroplating deposition. The structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were used to observe the morphology. The EDS spectrum showed that components of the materials were Sn and O. FE-SEM results showed the synthesized SnO nanowires have an approximate length of ~10–20 μm with a highly aspect ratio of > 500. SnO nanowires with a Sn/O atomic ratio of ~1:1 were observed from EDS. The crystal structure of SnO nanowires showed that all the peaks within the spectrum lead to SnO with a tetragonal structure. This study may lead to the use of the 1D structure nanowires into electronic nanodevices and/or sensors, thus leading to nano-based functional structures.

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Nanostructures for Light Trapping in Thin Film Solar Cells

Cited by 124 publications

References 153 publications

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

Seawater Desalination by Interfacial Solar Vapor Generation Method Using Plasmonic Heating Nanocomposites

Growth of Less than 20 nm SnO Nanowires Using an Anodic Aluminum Oxide Template for Gas Sensing

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