Resonant nano-dimer metasurface for ultra-thin a-Si:H solar cells

Abstract

Low-cost hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells (a-Si:H) can perform better and be more competitive by including nanostructures. An optimized nano-dimer structure embedded in close contact with the back electrode of an aSi:H ultra-thin solar cells can enhance the deliverable short-circuit current up to 27.5 %. This enhancement is the result of an increase in the absorption at the active layer, that is the product of an efficient scattering from the nanostructure. From our calculations, the nano-dimer structure must be made out of a high-index of refraction material, like GaP. The evaluation of the scattering and absorption cross section of the structure supports the calculated enhancement in short-circuit current, that is always accompanied by a decrease in the total reflectance of the cell, which is reduced by about 50 %.

Novel Nuclear Batteries Based on Radioluminescence

“…Moreover, for a-Si:H, the bandgap energy is higher than that for bulk silicon, and the peak of the optical absorption can be tailored to bring it into the visible range to make the wafers suitable for solar cell fabrication. [18][19][20] It was therefore decided to use solar cells made of a-Si-H material.…”

Optical Metasurfaces for Energy Conversion

“…Dielectric Mie resonators, particularly based on silicon, have been investigated as broadband absorbers directly incorporated into the photoactive medium in solar cells. 708 In one highly interesting example, Pala et al have incorporated lithographically patterned 2D arrays of silicon nanoresonators onto thin film crystalline silicon absorbing layers. 709 They have investigated both rectangular and trapezoidal metasurfaces designs for their absorption properties and spectral photocurrent response (Figure 31a).…”

Enhanced Opto‐Electrical Properties of Chalcogenide‐Rich Tin Selenide Thin Film after Incorporating Sulfur Yielding Tin Sulfoselenide

“…Most photovoltaic star materials have recently included poisonous and/or expensive components, including a-Si, GaAs, and Cd-based chalcogenides. [1][2][3] Researchers have studied a wide range of inexpensive and environmentally acceptable solar materials that have shown significant advances in photovoltaic performance to boost the development of photovoltaic technology. [4,5] As tin chalcogenide materials are nontoxic, lightweight, and contain elements that are abundant on Earth, they have attracted a lot of attention as a potential photovoltaic material.…”