Open AccessHexagonal sphere gratings for enhanced light trapping in crystalline silicon solar cells
Author(s) -
Johannes Eisenlohr,
Jan Benick,
Ian Marius Peters,
Bénédikt Bläsi,
Jan Christoph Goldschmidt,
Martin Hermle
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.00a111
Subject(s) - materials science , photocurrent , optics , optoelectronics , absorption (acoustics) , silicon , planar , wafer , plasmonic solar cell , solar cell , crystalline silicon , trapping , monocrystalline silicon , physics , ecology , computer graphics (images) , biology , computer science , composite material
Enhanced absorption of near infrared light in silicon solar cells is important for achieving high conversion efficiencies while reducing the solar cell's thickness. Hexagonal gratings on the rear side of solar cells can achieve such absorption enhancement. Our wave optical simulations show photocurrent density gains of up to 3 mA/cm2 for solar cells with a thickness of 40 µm and a planar front side. Hexagonal sphere gratings have been fabricated and optical measurements confirm the predicted absorption enhancement. The measured absorption enhancement corresponds to a photocurrent density gain of 1.04 mA/cm2 for planar wafers with a thickness of 250 µm and 1.49 mA/cm2 for 100 µm.