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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 4 — Feb. 13, 2012
  • pp: 3733–3743

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 4 > Page 3733

Enhanced photon absorption and carrier generation in nanowire solar cells

Wei Wang, Shaomin Wu, Randy. J. Knize, Kitt Reinhardt, Yalin Lu, and Shaochen Chen  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 4, pp. 3733-3743 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.003733


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Abstract

Overall performance of a thin film solar cell is determined by the efficiency of converting photons to electrons through light absorption, carrier generation, and carrier collection. Recently, photon management has emerged as a powerful tool to further boost this conversion efficiency. Here we propose a novel nanograting solar cell design that achieves enhanced broadband light absorption and carrier generation in conjunction with the reduced use of active and non-earth-abundant materials. A test using this design for the short circuit current density in CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells shows up to 250% enhancement when compared to the bare thin film cells. In addition, placing metal strips on top of the nanograting to act as the top electrode reduces the use of non-earth-abundant materials that is normally used as the transparent conducting materials. This novel solar cell design has the potential to become a new solar cell platform technology for various thin film solar cell systems.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(240.6680) Optics at surfaces : Surface plasmons
(350.6050) Other areas of optics : Solar energy
(310.6628) Thin films : Subwavelength structures, nanostructures

ToC Category:
Solar Energy

History
Original Manuscript: December 6, 2011
Revised Manuscript: January 21, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: January 23, 2012
Published: January 31, 2012

Citation
Wei Wang, Shaomin Wu, Randy. J. Knize, Kitt Reinhardt, Yalin Lu, and Shaochen Chen, "Enhanced photon absorption and carrier generation in nanowire solar cells," Opt. Express 20, 3733-3743 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-4-3733


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