Aluminum induced texturing of sandy and prism glasses: Combination of micro/nano texture with macro texture

Abstract

Aluminum induced texturing (AIT) is one of the most promising texturing methods, which can be applied on glass substrates for solar cell applications. Combination of different dimensional structures exhibits the opportunity to achieve enhanced light trapping schemes. Here in this study, float glass and macro textured sandy and prism glasses went through Aluminum induced texturing (AIT) process in order to enhance light management. Surface morphologies were investigated by FE‐SEM and optical measurements in terms of transmittance and haze were conducted. Micro or nano sized craters were formed on each type of glass surface successfully by using acidic and basic etching solutions. It was shown for every type of glass that AIT process enhances haze values remarkably. Moreover, it was demonstrated that basic solution is superior to acidic solution in terms of optical properties. In this work, random macro‐scale surface texture and imprinted inverted pyramid‐like pattern were used to combine AIT textures to attain high haze values. Superior haze was achieved from macro‐nano combined texture surface having more scattered light from prism glass substrate with a maximum haze value of 90 %. Comparison of AIT textured float, prism and sandy glasses in terms of haze.

Optimization and Characterization of Aluminum Induced Texture Using Radio Frequency Power

“…Different glass texturing methods have been used in recent years to improve the efficiency of thin film PV application such as chemical etching with hydrofluoric acid [8], liquid surface coating (solgel) containing SiO2 spheres [9], hot embossing [10], aluminum induced texture [11,12,13], plasma etching or reactive ion etching with or without natural lithography [14,15]. In order to enhance the performance of thin film silicon solar cell, it is strategic to use textured glass by aluminum induced texture process [16,17]. Using the aluminum induced texture process may not only improve light trapping for solar cell, but also avoid chemical etching of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film [18,19] that decreases the transparent conductive oxide consumption.…”