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Periodic nano‐textures enhance efficiency in multi‐junction silicon thin‐film solar cells
Author(s) -
Meier Matthias,
Paetzold Ulrich W.,
Ghosh Michael,
van Erven Rob
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201431112
Subject(s) - materials science , optoelectronics , silicon , plasmonic solar cell , nano , energy conversion efficiency , thin film , fabrication , tandem , solar cell , trapping , nanotechnology , optics , monocrystalline silicon , composite material , medicine , ecology , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , biology
In this work, we report on the prototyping of thin‐film silicon tandem solar cells with periodic light‐trapping textures. Our approach combines an industrial applicable nano‐imprint process, for the fabrication of advanced light management concepts, with state‐of‐the‐art thin film silicon solar cell technology. In a joint experimental effort between project partners of the European thin‐film silicon project “Fast‐Track”, we demonstrate that optimal periodic light‐trapping nano‐textures at the front‐side of a multi‐junction solar cell enhance the power conversion efficiency of the device in comparison to solar cells with conventional textured TCO (transparent conductive oxide) front contacts from 11.7% to 12.1%. This improved power conversion efficiency is mainly driven by an enhancement of the short‐circuit current density through the use of periodic light‐trapping nano‐textures.