Lithography-Free, Large-Area Spatially Segmented Disordered Structure for Light Harvesting in Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract

Optical losses in photovoltaic (PV) systems cause nonradiative recombination or incomplete absorption of incident light, hindering the attainment of high energy conversion efficiency. The surface of the PV cells is encapsulated to not only protect the cell but also control the transmission properties of the incident light to promote maximum conversion. Despite many advances in elaborately designed photonic structures for light harvesting, the complicated process and sophisticated patterning highly diminish the cost-effectiveness and further limit the mass production on a large scale. Here, we propose a robust/comprehensive strategy based on the hybrid disordered photonic structure, implementing multifaceted light harvesting with an affordable/scalable fabrication method. The spatially segmented structures include (i) nanostructures in the active area for antireflection and (ii) microstructures in the inactive edge area for redirecting the incident light into the active area. A lithography-free hybrid disordered structure fabricated by the thermal dewetting method is a facile approach to create a large-area photonic structure with hyperuniformity over the entire area. Based on the experimentally realized nano-/microstructures, we designed a computational model and performed an analytical calculation to confirm the light behavior and performance enhancement. Particularly, the suggested structure is manufactured by the elastomeric stamps method, which is affordable and profitable for mass production. The produced hybrid structure integrated with the multijunction solar cell presented an improved efficiency from 28.0 to 29.6% by 1.06 times.

Ultralight plasmonic structural color paint

“…The aluminum nanoparticles were then produced on an Ultra High Vacuum electron beam evaporator (AJA International). In agreement with previous studies ( 20 , 34 – 36 ), we find that three parameters play a critical role in the geometry of the self-assembled monolayer: the temperature of the substrate, the pressure in the chamber, and the rate of growth. We chose these parameters compromising between the desired higher saturation of colors and the lower requirements for fabrication that ensures the versatility of the proposed architecture and the viability of a transition to industrial-scale production.…”

Mechanically-Guided 3D Assembly for Architected Flexible Electronics

“…Aside from the vibrational energies, photogenerated energies (often in form of solar energies) are also ubiquitous in nature. The existing devices for photoenergy harvesting or conversion are mostly in planar configurations, such as solar cells, ,, photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC) cells, − devices for artificial photosynthesis, photocatalytic CO 2 reductions cells, , and so on. Due to the angle-dependent optical properties of 2D structures (e.g., absorption, reflection, transmittance, scattering, and other forms of optical interactions), planar devices are not able to take full use of solar energies (e.g., shadowing caused by low incident angles of lights).…”

Fluorescent Waveguide Lattices for Enhanced Light Harvesting and Solar Cell Performance

“…Coatings also offer opportunities to leverage the structure–property relations of a wide range of optical surface structures. To date, improvements in solar cell performance have been demonstrated through nanoparticles surface coatings, nanostructured diffraction and diffuse layers, nanotexturing, geometric optical structure, among many others. − …”