Optical study of back-contacted CIGS solar cells

Rezaei, Nasim; Isabella, Olindo; Procel, Paul; Vroon, Zeger; Zeman, Miro

doi:10.1364/oe.27.00a269

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 57 publications

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“…This design is an effective way to avoid parasitic absorption of high-energy photons in contact layers. It has already been successfully used in thick crystalline silicon solar cells, and could be adapted to polycrystalline CIGS 114 and CdTe thin films. This design could be fabricated by deposition on a textured and passivated glass substrate leading to a superstrate configuration.…”

Section: Novel Architectures For Ultrathin Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress and prospects for ultrathin solar cells

2020

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Ultrathin solar cells with thicknesses at least 10 times lower than conventional solar cells could offer a unique potential to efficiently convert solar energy into electricity while enabling material savings, shorter deposition times, and improved carrier collection in defective absorber materials. Efficient light absorption and hence high power conversion efficiency could be retained in ultrathin absorbers using light-trapping structures that enhance the optical path. Nevertheless, several technical challenges prevent the realization of a practical device. Here we review the state-of-the-art of c-Si, GaAs and Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 ultrathin solar cells and compare their optical performances against theoretical light-trapping models. We then address challenges in the fabrication of ultrathin absorber layers and in nanoscale patterning of light-trapping structures and discuss strategies to ensure efficient charge collection. Finally, we provide perspectives to combine photonic and electrical constraints into practical architectures for ultrathin solar cells and identify future research directions and potential applications of ultrathin photovoltaic technologies.

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Section: Novel Architectures For Ultrathin Solar Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress and prospects for ultrathin solar cells

2020

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Interdigitated back‐contacted structure: A different approach towards high‐efficiency ultrathin copper indium gallium (di)selenide solar cells

Rezaei

Procel

Šimor

et al. 2020

Progress in Photovoltaics

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An interdigitated back‐contacted (IBC) configuration is proposed for submicron copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS). In a modelling platform, the structure was opto‐electrically optimized for maximum efficiency. The results are compared with a reference front/back‐contacted (FBC) solar cell with similar absorber thickness and exhibiting 11.9% efficiency. The electrical passivation at the front side is accomplished by an Al2O3 layer, which is endowed with negative fixed charges. The results indicate that with an optimal geometry and engineered bandgap grading, the efficiency of the new IBC structure can reach 17%. Additionally, with a reasonably low defect density in the absorber layer, efficiencies as high as 19.7% and open‐circuit voltage comparable with that of the record solar cell are possible with the IBC structure.

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