The surface of thin-film solar cells can be tailored with photonic nanostructures to allow light trapping in the absorbing medium. This in turn increases the optical thickness of the film and thus enhances their absorption. Such a coherent light trapping is generally accomplished with deterministic photonic architectures. Here, we experimentally explore the use of a different nanostructure, a disordered one, for this purpose. We show that the disorder-induced modes in the film allow improvements in the absorption over a broad range of frequencies and impinging angles.

© 2013 OSA

1. R. D. Schaller, M. Sykora, J. M. Pietryga, and V. I. Klimov, “Seven excitons at a cost of one: redefining the limits for conversion efficiency of photons into charge carriers,” Nano Lett.6, 424–429 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. J. M. Zahler, K. Tanabe, C. Ladous, T. Pinnington, F. D. Newman, and H. A. Atwater, “High efficiency InGaAs solar cells on si by InP layer transfer,” App. Phys. Lett.91, 012108 (2007). [CrossRef]
3. C. G. Granqvist, “Transparent conductors as solar energy materials: A panoramic review,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells91, 1529–1598 (2007). [CrossRef]
4. G. Brown and J. Wu, “Third generation photovoltaics,” Laser & Photon. Rev.3, 394–405 (2009). [CrossRef]
5. H. Chen, J. Hou, S. Zhang, Y. Liang, G. Yang, Y. Yang, L. Yu, Y. Wu, and G. Li, “Polymer solar cells with enhanced open-circuit voltage and efficiency,” Nature Photon.3, 649–653 (2009). [CrossRef]
6. F. C. Krebs, “Fabrication and processing of polymer solar cells: a review of printing and coating techniques,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells93, 394–412 (2009). [CrossRef]
7. V. M. Andreev, V. A. Grilikhes, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, V. D. Rumyantsev, N. A. Sadchikov, and M. Z. Shvarts, “Concentrator PV modules and solar cells for TPV systems,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells84, 317 (2004). [CrossRef]
8. P. Spinelli, M. Verschuuren, and A. Polman, “Broadband omnidirectional antireflection coating based on sub-wavelength surface mie resonators,” Nature Commun.3, 692 (2012). [CrossRef]
9. Y. Park, E. Drouard, O. E. Daif, X. Letartre, P. Viktorovitch, A. Fave, A. Kaminski, M. Lemiti, and C. Seassal, “Absorption enhancement using photonic crystals for silicon thin film solar cells,” Opt. Express17, 14312–14321 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. S. E. Han and G. Chen, “Optical absorption enhancement in silicon nanohole arrays for solar photovoltaics,” Nano Lett.10, 1012–1015 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nature Mater.9, 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef]
12. V. E. Ferry, M. A. Verschuuren, M. C. van Lare, R. E. I. Schropp, H. A. Atwater, and A. Polman, “Optimized spatial correlations for broadband light trapping nanopatterns in high efficiency ultrathin film a-si:h solar cells,” Nano Lett.11, 4239–4245 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. X. Meng, G. Gomard, O. El Daif, E. Drouard, R. Orobtchouk, A. Kaminski, A. Fave, M. Lemiti, A. Abramov, P. Roca i Cabarrocas, and C. Seassal, “Absorbing photonic crystals for silicon thin-film solar cells: Design, fabrication and experimental investigation,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells95(Supp. 1), S32–S38 (2011). [CrossRef]
14. S. B. Mallick, M. Agrawal, A. Wangperawong, E. S. Barnard, K. K. Singh, R. J. Visser, M. L. Brongersma, and P. Peumans, “Ultrathin crystalline-silicon solar cells with embedded photonic crystals,” App. Phys. Lett.100, 053113 (2012). [CrossRef]
15. Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Fundamental limit of nanophotonic light trapping in solar cells,” PNAS107, 17491–17496 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. D. M. Callahan, J. N. Munday, and H. A. Atwater, “Solar cell light trapping beyond the ray optic limit,” Nano Lett.12, 214–218 (2012). [CrossRef]
17. A. Bozzola, M. Liscidini, and L. C. Andreani, “Photonic light-trapping versus lambertian limits in thin film silicon solar cells with 1d and 2d periodic patterns,” Opt. Express20, A224–A244 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. K. Kempa, M. J. Naughton, Z. F. Ren, A. Herczynski, T. Kirkpatrick, J. Rybczynski, and Y. Gao, “Hot electron effect in nanoscopically thin photovoltaic junctions,” App. Phys. Lett.95, 233121 (2009). [CrossRef]
19. C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, R. Carius, F.-J. Haug, T. Sderstrm, C. Ballif, and F. Lederer, “Comparison and optimization of randomly textured surfaces in thin-film solar cells,” Opt. Express18, A335–A341 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. E. R. Martins, J. Li, Y. Liu, J. Zhou, and T. F. Krauss, “Engineering gratings for light trapping in photovoltaics: The supercell concept,” Phys. Rev. B86, 041404 (2012). [CrossRef]
21. A. Oskooi, P. A. Favuzzi, Y. Tanaka, H. Shigeta, Y. Kawakami, and S. Noda, “Partially disordered photonic-crystal thin films for enhanced and robust photovoltaics,” App. Phys. Lett.100, 181110 (2012). [CrossRef]
22. P. Kowalczewski, M. Liscidini, and L. C. Andreani, “Engineering gaussian disorder at rough interfaces for light trapping in thin-film solar cells,” Opt. Lett.37, 4868–4870 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
23. M. M. Sigalas, C. M. Soukoulis, C.-T. Chan, and D. Turner, “Localization of electromagnetic waves in two-dimensional disordered systems,” Phys. Rev. B53, 8340–8348 (1996). [CrossRef]
24. C. Vanneste and P. Sebbah, “Complexity of two-dimensional quasimodes at the transition from weak scattering to anderson localization,” Phys. Rev. A79, 041802 (2009). [CrossRef]
25. F. Riboli, P. Barthelemy, S. Vignolini, F. Intonti, A. D. Rossi, S. Combrie, and D. S. Wiersma, “Anderson localization of near-visible light in two dimensions,” Opt. Lett.36, 127–129 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
26. K. Vynck, M. Burresi, F. Riboli, and D. S. Wiersma, “Photon management in two-dimensional disordered media,” Nature Mater.11, 1017–1022 (2012).
27. A. F. Oskooi, D. Roundy, M. Ibanescu, P. Bermel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and S. G. Johnson, “Meep: A flexible free-software package for electromagnetic simulations by the fdtd method,” Comput. Phys. Commun.181, 687–702 (2010). [CrossRef]
28. R. A. Street, Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (Cambridge University Press, 2005).
29. Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Thermodynamic upper bound on broadband light coupling with photonic structures,” Phys. Rev. Lett.109, 173901 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

App. Phys. Lett.

• J. M. Zahler, K. Tanabe, C. Ladous, T. Pinnington, F. D. Newman, and H. A. Atwater, “High efficiency InGaAs solar cells on si by InP layer transfer,” App. Phys. Lett.91, 012108 (2007). [CrossRef]
• S. B. Mallick, M. Agrawal, A. Wangperawong, E. S. Barnard, K. K. Singh, R. J. Visser, M. L. Brongersma, and P. Peumans, “Ultrathin crystalline-silicon solar cells with embedded photonic crystals,” App. Phys. Lett.100, 053113 (2012). [CrossRef]
• K. Kempa, M. J. Naughton, Z. F. Ren, A. Herczynski, T. Kirkpatrick, J. Rybczynski, and Y. Gao, “Hot electron effect in nanoscopically thin photovoltaic junctions,” App. Phys. Lett.95, 233121 (2009). [CrossRef]
• A. Oskooi, P. A. Favuzzi, Y. Tanaka, H. Shigeta, Y. Kawakami, and S. Noda, “Partially disordered photonic-crystal thin films for enhanced and robust photovoltaics,” App. Phys. Lett.100, 181110 (2012). [CrossRef]

Comput. Phys. Commun.

• A. F. Oskooi, D. Roundy, M. Ibanescu, P. Bermel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and S. G. Johnson, “Meep: A flexible free-software package for electromagnetic simulations by the fdtd method,” Comput. Phys. Commun.181, 687–702 (2010). [CrossRef]

Laser & Photon. Rev.

• G. Brown and J. Wu, “Third generation photovoltaics,” Laser & Photon. Rev.3, 394–405 (2009). [CrossRef]

Nano Lett.

• D. M. Callahan, J. N. Munday, and H. A. Atwater, “Solar cell light trapping beyond the ray optic limit,” Nano Lett.12, 214–218 (2012). [CrossRef]
• S. E. Han and G. Chen, “Optical absorption enhancement in silicon nanohole arrays for solar photovoltaics,” Nano Lett.10, 1012–1015 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• V. E. Ferry, M. A. Verschuuren, M. C. van Lare, R. E. I. Schropp, H. A. Atwater, and A. Polman, “Optimized spatial correlations for broadband light trapping nanopatterns in high efficiency ultrathin film a-si:h solar cells,” Nano Lett.11, 4239–4245 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. D. Schaller, M. Sykora, J. M. Pietryga, and V. I. Klimov, “Seven excitons at a cost of one: redefining the limits for conversion efficiency of photons into charge carriers,” Nano Lett.6, 424–429 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nature Commun.

• P. Spinelli, M. Verschuuren, and A. Polman, “Broadband omnidirectional antireflection coating based on sub-wavelength surface mie resonators,” Nature Commun.3, 692 (2012). [CrossRef]

Nature Mater.

• H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nature Mater.9, 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef]
• K. Vynck, M. Burresi, F. Riboli, and D. S. Wiersma, “Photon management in two-dimensional disordered media,” Nature Mater.11, 1017–1022 (2012).

Nature Photon.

• H. Chen, J. Hou, S. Zhang, Y. Liang, G. Yang, Y. Yang, L. Yu, Y. Wu, and G. Li, “Polymer solar cells with enhanced open-circuit voltage and efficiency,” Nature Photon.3, 649–653 (2009). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• Y. Park, E. Drouard, O. E. Daif, X. Letartre, P. Viktorovitch, A. Fave, A. Kaminski, M. Lemiti, and C. Seassal, “Absorption enhancement using photonic crystals for silicon thin film solar cells,” Opt. Express17, 14312–14321 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Bozzola, M. Liscidini, and L. C. Andreani, “Photonic light-trapping versus lambertian limits in thin film silicon solar cells with 1d and 2d periodic patterns,” Opt. Express20, A224–A244 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, R. Carius, F.-J. Haug, T. Sderstrm, C. Ballif, and F. Lederer, “Comparison and optimization of randomly textured surfaces in thin-film solar cells,” Opt. Express18, A335–A341 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• P. Kowalczewski, M. Liscidini, and L. C. Andreani, “Engineering gaussian disorder at rough interfaces for light trapping in thin-film solar cells,” Opt. Lett.37, 4868–4870 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. Riboli, P. Barthelemy, S. Vignolini, F. Intonti, A. D. Rossi, S. Combrie, and D. S. Wiersma, “Anderson localization of near-visible light in two dimensions,” Opt. Lett.36, 127–129 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. A

• C. Vanneste and P. Sebbah, “Complexity of two-dimensional quasimodes at the transition from weak scattering to anderson localization,” Phys. Rev. A79, 041802 (2009). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. B

• M. M. Sigalas, C. M. Soukoulis, C.-T. Chan, and D. Turner, “Localization of electromagnetic waves in two-dimensional disordered systems,” Phys. Rev. B53, 8340–8348 (1996). [CrossRef]
• E. R. Martins, J. Li, Y. Liu, J. Zhou, and T. F. Krauss, “Engineering gratings for light trapping in photovoltaics: The supercell concept,” Phys. Rev. B86, 041404 (2012). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Thermodynamic upper bound on broadband light coupling with photonic structures,” Phys. Rev. Lett.109, 173901 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

PNAS

• Z. Yu, A. Raman, and S. Fan, “Fundamental limit of nanophotonic light trapping in solar cells,” PNAS107, 17491–17496 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells

• X. Meng, G. Gomard, O. El Daif, E. Drouard, R. Orobtchouk, A. Kaminski, A. Fave, M. Lemiti, A. Abramov, P. Roca i Cabarrocas, and C. Seassal, “Absorbing photonic crystals for silicon thin-film solar cells: Design, fabrication and experimental investigation,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells95(Supp. 1), S32–S38 (2011). [CrossRef]
• C. G. Granqvist, “Transparent conductors as solar energy materials: A panoramic review,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells91, 1529–1598 (2007). [CrossRef]
• F. C. Krebs, “Fabrication and processing of polymer solar cells: a review of printing and coating techniques,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells93, 394–412 (2009). [CrossRef]
• V. M. Andreev, V. A. Grilikhes, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, V. D. Rumyantsev, N. A. Sadchikov, and M. Z. Shvarts, “Concentrator PV modules and solar cells for TPV systems,” Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells84, 317 (2004). [CrossRef]

Other

• R. A. Street, Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (Cambridge University Press, 2005).

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