A Comparative Study of a Novel Anti-reflective Layer to Improve the Performance of a Thin-Film GaAs Solar Cell by Embedding Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Jangjoy, Abolfazl; Bahador, Hamid; Heidarzadeh, Hamid

doi:10.1007/s11468-020-01297-2

Cited by 34 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The front cover glass required for photovoltaic (PV) module insulation is the first surface to receive irradiation toward the solar cell, and the first surface to limit the photon flux impinging due to optical losses, which can be counteracted by means of antireflective (AR) coatings. The soiling adherence inherently disrupts the intended function of the AR coatings, thus reducing the power output of the PV plants. − This issue is hence motivating the increased research attention toward AR and antisoiling coatings for photovoltaic solar panels, lasers, automobiles, optical instruments, and solar collectors. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrophilic Antireflection and Antidust Silica Coatings

et al. 2021

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We report on the optical and morphological properties of silica thin layers deposited by reactive RF magnetron sputtering of a SiO 2 target under different oxygen to total flow ratios [r(O 2 ) = O 2 /Ar, ranging from 0 to 25%]. The refractive index (n), extinction coefficient, total transmission, and total reflectance were systematically investigated, while field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and threedimensional (3D) average roughness data construction measurements were carried out to probe the surface morphology. Contact angle measurements were performed to assess the hydrophilicity of our coatings as a function of the oxygen content. We performed a thorough numerical analysis using 1D-solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) based on the measured experimental optical properties to simulate the photovoltaic (PV) device performance, where a clear improvement in the photoconversion efficiency from 25 to 26.5% was clearly observed with respect to r(O 2 ). Finally, a computational analysis using OptiLayer confirmed a minimum total reflectance of less than 0.4% by coupling a silica layer with n = 1.415 with another high-refractive-index (i.e., >2) oxide layer. These promising results pave the way for optimization of silica thin films as efficient antireflection and self-cleaning coatings to display better PV performance in a variety of locations including a desert environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrophilic Antireflection and Antidust Silica Coatings

et al. 2021

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“…The need for miniaturization requires developing novel approaches on how to build even smaller, yet functional devices. One of these approaches is by utilizing nanoparticles and incorporating them into devices. − Either individual nanoparticles can be utilized or nanoparticles assembled into a thin layer. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilayer Langmuir Film of Monodisperse Au Nanoclusters: Unusual Growth via Bilayers

et al. 2022

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The assembly of nanomaterials into thin films is an important area in the nanofabrication of novel devices. The monodispersity of nanoparticles plays an essential role in the resulting quality of the assembled mono-and multilayers. Larger polydispersity leads to smaller lateral correlation lengths and smaller domains of aligned nanoparticles, thus resulting in more point and line defects. Perfectly monodisperse nanoparticles should therefore minimize the number of defects in the assembled films. Despite tremendous progress in reducing the polydispersity of nanoparticles, there has been limited research on the assembly of thin films out of perfectly monodisperse nanoclusters. Here, we show a formation of Langmuir films using perfectly monodisperse gold nanoclusters with composition Au 32 ( n Bu 3 P) 12 Cl 8 exhibiting a diameter of 1.8 nm. Using both in situ and ex situ small-angle X-ray scattering, we show that the monolayer formed on a Langmuir− Blodgett trough exhibits long-range order. Moreover, after compressing the monolayer, we found that the stress accumulated prior to the monolayer collapse triggers a transition to a short-range order not previously reported. If such monolayer is compressed further, the second layer is not formed as in the case of standard nanoparticles. Instead, a growth of islands by an odd number of layers is observed, leading to a thin film with a structure consisting of two different orientations of the hexagonal lattice. Such anomalous behavior may have implications for the possibilities of thin-film formation.

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“…Plasmonic materials are used in numerous applications, including steam generation (Zhu et al, 2018), plasmonic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Jeong et al, 2018;Kim et al, 2017;Roche et al, 2017), plasmonic photocatalytic reaction (Huang, Wu et al, 2020;Agrawal et al, 2021), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS; Ye et al, 2008;Lai et al, 2017;Shiao et al, 2021;Litti et al, 2021;Lin et al, 2012;Jin et al, 2021;Arabi et al, 2021;Li, Wuethrich et al, 2021;Peng et al, 2021), solar cells (Jangjoy et al, 2021;Ibrahim et al, 2021; and light-assisted fuel cells (Lin et al, 2015;Li, Miao et al, 2021;Xu et al, 2020). Two-dimensional plasmonic substrates are fabricated using top-down semiconductor processing or patterned fabrication (Lin et al, 2012;Lai et al, 2017), laser writing (Abou Khalil et al, 2017) or the adhesion of bottom-up synthesized metal nanoparticles (Wang et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of synthesis time on plasmonic properties of Ag dendritic nanoforests

Huang¹,

Chang²,

Lee³

et al. 2022

Int Union Crystallogr J

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The effects of synthesis time on the plasmonic properties of Ag dendritic nanoforests on Si substrate (Ag-DNF/Si) samples synthesized through the fluoride-assisted galvanic replacement reaction were investigated. The Ag-DNF/Si samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, reflection spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The prolonged reaction time led to the growth of an Ag-DNF layer and etched Si hole array. SEM images and variations in the fractal dimension index indicated that complex-structure, feather-like leaves became coral-like branches between 30 and 60 min of synthesis. The morphological variation during the growth of the Ag DNFs resulted in different optical responses to light illumination, especially those of light harvest and energy transformation. The sample achieved the most desirable light-to-heat conversion efficiency and SERS response with a 30 min growth time. A longer synthesis time or thicker Ag-DNF layer on the Si substrate did not have superior plasmonic properties.

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A Comparative Study of a Novel Anti-reflective Layer to Improve the Performance of a Thin-Film GaAs Solar Cell by Embedding Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Cited by 34 publications

References 35 publications

Hydrophilic Antireflection and Antidust Silica Coatings

Hydrophilic Antireflection and Antidust Silica Coatings

Multilayer Langmuir Film of Monodisperse Au Nanoclusters: Unusual Growth via Bilayers

Effect of synthesis time on plasmonic properties of Ag dendritic nanoforests

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