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FDTD modeling of solar energy absorption in silicon branched nanowires

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Abstract

Thin film nanostructured photovoltaic cells are increasing in efficiency and decreasing the cost of solar energy. FDTD modeling of branched nanowire 'forests' are shown to have improved optical absorption in the visible and near-IR spectra over nanowire arrays alone, with a factor of 5 enhancement available at 1000 nm. Alternate BNW tree configurations are presented, achieving a maximum absorption of over 95% at 500 nm.

©2013 Optical Society of America

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Figures (7)

Fig. 1
Fig. 1 Light and carrier interactions in Si junctions (a) planar junction, (b) radial junction.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2 Simulation of NW array with r = 25 nm, L = 2.33 μm, and a = 100 nm (orange) compared with TMM results from [20].
Fig. 3
Fig. 3 (a) Dimensions of a single branched nanowire tree. (b) Array of BNW trees.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4 Reference solar spectrum for Si BNW simulations.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5 BNW forest with Rtrunk = 0.35 μm, lattice spacing a = 2 μm, height h = 10 μm, branch radius Rbranch = 0.04. Height ranges from 5 – 25μm. (a) Branch spacing s = 0.7 μm. (b) Branch spacing s = 2.5 μm.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6 BNW forest with Rtrunk = 0.35 μm, a = 2 μm. (a) Branch spacing s = 0.7 μm, trunk height h = 10 μm, branch radius Rbranch = 0.04 – 0.28 μm. (b) s = 2.5 μm, h = 10 μm, Rbranch = 0.04 – 0.32 μm. (c) s = 0.7 μm, h = 20 μm, Rbranch = 0.04 μm; compared to NW with a = 2 μm, h = 20 μm. (d) s = 2.5 μm, h = 10 μm, Rbranch = 0.04 – 0.28 μm. s = 2.5 μm, h = 20 μm, Rbranch = 0.04 – 0.20 μm; compared to NW with a = 2 μm, h = 20 μm.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7 [Left side] BNW forest configurations. (a) Plain BNW tree; (b) Canopy; (c) Scrub; (d) Conifer. [Right side] Results for BNW tree, canopy, conifer, and scrub forest arrays for Rtrunk = 0.35 μm, a = 2 μm, branch spacing s = 0.7 μm, trunk height h = 20 μm, branch radius Rbranch = 0.25 μm, branch length L = 5

Tables (1)

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Table 1 Reflectance and transmittance for branched nanowires with Rtrunk = 0.35 μm, a = 1 μm. s = 0.7 μm, L = 0.5 μm, trunk height h = 20 μm, branch radius Rbranch = 0.25 μm.

Equations (3)

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η eff =( 1ϕ ) η c +ϕ η d
R= R Ρ = R = ( η d η i η d + η i ) 2
T=T Ρ = T = 4 η d η i ( η d + η i ) 2
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