Optical modelling of the external quantum efficiency of solar cells with luminescent down-shifting layers

Rothemund, Ralph

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.004

Cited by 52 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As a first step, we simulate the possible efficiency gain for a chosen CIGS solar cell depending on the optical properties of the applied luminescent down‐shifting (LDS) layer. To this end, we used the simplified LDS model that was introduced by Rothemund . The model uses experimentally measured data of the absorbance and emission spectra of the LDS layers, as well as the EQE of the solar cell.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…We obtained a theoretical value of η LDS =0.72 for the LDS efficiency of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) based layers. For that we assumed the refractive index of PVB to be n =1.52 at λ =600 nm, layer thicknesses 300–450 μm, and PLQY of the dyes in the layer of approximately 90 % ,. This value is marked with a star in Figure .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The EQE gain that we determined experimentally matches very well with the theoretical predictions for fully optimized systems. This was simulated (Figure ) and can be roughly estimated using Equation

EQE_{Mod} (λ_{\max}) = {P L Q Y}_{D y e} \times \frac{\int ({normalD normaly normale}_{normalE normalm} ((), λ) \times {normalE normalQ normalE}_{normalC normale normall normall} ((), λ)) d λ}{\int {normalD normaly normale (λ)}_{E m} d λ} \times normalO normalp normalt normali normalc normala normall normalE normalf normalf normali normalc normali normale normaln normalc normaly \times A + (1 - A) \times {E Q E}_{C e l l} (λ_{normalm normala normalx}),

…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Optimization of Solution‐Processed Luminescent Down‐Shifting Layers for Photovoltaics by Customizing Organic Dye Based Thick Films

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We theoretically and experimentally determined the optimized film properties of luminescent down‐shifting (LDS) layers for thin film solar cells. Based on the predictions from an adapted optical model, we coated thick (300–500 μm) and efficient luminescent down‐shifting layers from environmentally friendly solvents and industrially scalable inks. LDS layers consisted of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as binder and organic luminescent dyes as UV‐converters. The luminescence quantum yields of the dyes were studied in solution (benzyl alcohol) and for solid thick films. Our data shows that the studied dyes retain luminescent efficiencies of approximately 90 % in the solid state when processed from solution. We further apply the produced layers onto copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells to verify the theoretical predictions for enhancing the external quantum efficiency (EQE) in the UV region. For the best converters a remarkable enhancement of the EQE from 9 % to 52 % was recorded at 380 nm. These findings underline that printed LDS layers indeed have the potential to enhance the efficiency and the light harvesting capabilities of industrially relevant photovoltaic modules.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

EQE_{Mod} (λ_{\max}) = {P L Q Y}_{D y e} \times \frac{\int ({normalD normaly normale}_{normalE normalm} ((), λ) \times {normalE normalQ normalE}_{normalC normale normall normall} ((), λ)) d λ}{\int {normalD normaly normale (λ)}_{E m} d λ} \times normalO normalp normalt normali normalc normala normall normalE normalf normalf normali normalc normali normale normaln normalc normaly \times A + (1 - A) \times {E Q E}_{C e l l} (λ_{normalm normala normalx}),

…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Optimization of Solution‐Processed Luminescent Down‐Shifting Layers for Photovoltaics by Customizing Organic Dye Based Thick Films

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There have been a number of analytical models derived to decouple the reflectance and DS effects [5], [12][13][14][15][16]. However, there are some limitations in these models such as not accounting for multiple reflections and interference in thin-film layers and ignoring the effects of parasitic absorption [5,14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there are some limitations in these models such as not accounting for multiple reflections and interference in thin-film layers and ignoring the effects of parasitic absorption [5,14,15]. These limitations can lead to an inaccurate evaluation of the DS conversion efficiency or the resulting internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of the solar cell with the DS layer, which is important in decoupling the surface reflectance and DS effects, as will be shown later.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Procedure to decouple reflectance and down-shifting effects in luminescent down-shifting enhanced photovoltaics

Gabr¹,

Walker²,

Wilkins³

et al. 2017

Opt. Express

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/copyright Vous avez des questions? Nous pouvons vous aider. Pour communiquer directement avec un auteur, consultez la première page de la revue dans laquelle son article a été publié afin de trouver ses coordonnées. Si vous n'arrivez pas à les repérer, communiquez avec nous à PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. Questions? Contact the NRC Publications Archive team atPublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. If you wish to email the authors directly, please see the first page of the publication for their contact information. NRC Publications Archive Archives des publications du CNRCThis publication could be one of several versions: author's original, accepted manuscript or the publisher's version. / La version de cette publication peut être l'une des suivantes : la version prépublication de l'auteur, la version acceptée du manuscrit ou la version de l'éditeur. NRC Publications Record / Notice d'Archives des publications de CNRC:http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/view/object/?id=b61b8697-879c-41ed-a72d-d183ad0b44f6 http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=b61b8697-879c-41ed-a72d-d183ad0b44f6 Abstract: The down-shifting (DS) process is a purely optical approach used to improve the short-wavelength response of a solar cell by shifting high-energy photons to the visible range, which can be more efficiently absorbed by the solar cell. In addition to the DS effect, coupling a DS layer to the top surface of a solar cell results in a change in surface reflectance. The two effects are intermixed and therefore, usually reported as a single effect. Here we propose a procedure to decouple the two effects. Analytical equations are derived to decouple the two effects, that consider the experimentally measured quantum efficiency of the solar cell with and without the DS layer, in addition to transfer matrix simulations of the parasitic absorption in the device structure. In this work, an overall degradation of 0.46 mA/cm 2 is observed when adding a DS layer composed of silicon nanocrystals embedded in a quartz matrix to a silicon solar cell of 11% baseline efficiency. To fully understand the contribution from each effect, the surface reflectance and DS effects are decoupled and quantified using the described procedure. We observe an enhancement of 0.27 mA/cm 2 in short-circuit current density due to the DS effect, while the surface reflectance effect leads to a degradation of 0.73 mA/cm 2 in short-circuit current density.

show abstract

Downshifting Encapsulant: Optical Simulation Evaluation of the Solution to Ultraviolet‐Induced Degradation in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells

Xu,

Bittkau,

Eberst

et al. 2024

Adv Energy and Sustain Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ultraviolet (UV)‐induced degradation (UVID) poses a significant challenge for the prospective mass production of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells, known for their high efficiency. In this study, the magnified impact of UV radiation when employing a silicon carbide (SiC)‐based transparent passivating contact (TPC) on the front side of SHJ solar cells is reported. A reduction in open‐circuit voltage (VOC), short‐circuit current (JSC), and fill factor of 12%, 6%, and 11%, respectively, is observed after UV exposure. Conventional UVID mitigation measures, UV‐blocking encapsulation, are assessed through single‐cell TPC laminates, revealing an unavoidable tradeoff between current loss and UVID. Alternatively, the utilization of ultraviolet‐downshifting (UV‐DS) encapsulants is proposed to convert UV radiation into the visible light spectrum. An optical simulation method, conducted via OPAL2, is presented to evaluate UV‐DS encapsulants for diminishing UVID in SHJ solar cells with different front contacts. A simple methodology is proposed to mimic the optical property of UV‐DS encapsulants. In the simulation results, additional current gains of up to 0.33 mA cm−2 achievable with suitable UV‐DS encapsulants are highlighted. The factors related to the UV‐DS effects are evaluated and the optimization pathway for UV‐DS encapsulants is elucidated.

show abstract

Optical modelling of the external quantum efficiency of solar cells with luminescent down-shifting layers

Cited by 52 publications

References 16 publications

Optimization of Solution‐Processed Luminescent Down‐Shifting Layers for Photovoltaics by Customizing Organic Dye Based Thick Films

Optimization of Solution‐Processed Luminescent Down‐Shifting Layers for Photovoltaics by Customizing Organic Dye Based Thick Films

Procedure to decouple reflectance and down-shifting effects in luminescent down-shifting enhanced photovoltaics

Downshifting Encapsulant: Optical Simulation Evaluation of the Solution to Ultraviolet‐Induced Degradation in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About