Open AccessAdvanced light management based on periodic textures for Cu(In,Ga)Se_2 thin-film solar cells
Author(s) -
Chidozie Onwudinanti,
Robin Vismara,
Olindo Isabella,
Louis Grenet,
Fabrice Emieux,
Miro Zeman
Publication year - 2016
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.24.00a693
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , absorptance , optoelectronics , copper indium gallium selenide solar cells , reflection (computer programming) , absorption (acoustics) , photovoltaic system , reflector (photography) , thin film , layer (electronics) , grating , solar cell , reflectivity , light source , composite material , ecology , physics , computer science , biology , programming language , nanotechnology
We have used 3-D optical modelling to investigate light management concepts based on periodic textures and material optimization for photovoltaic devices based on Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) absorber material. At first, calibration of the software based on the characterization of a reference (1500-nm thick) CIGS device was carried out. The effects of 1-D and 2-D symmetric gratings on the cell were then investigated, showing significant improvement in anti-reflection effect and in absorptance in the active layer, achieved by excitation of guided modes in the absorber. In addition, device configurations endowed with alternative back reflector and front transparent conductive oxide (TCO) were tested with the goal to quench parasitic absorption losses at front and back side. The use of In 2 O 3 :H (IOH) as front and back TCO, combined with an optimized 2-D grating structure, led to a 25% increase of the optical performance with respect to an equally-thick flat device. Most of the performance increase was kept when the absorber thickness was reduced from 1500 nm to 600 nm.