Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates

Mohammad Ismail Hossain; Wayesh Qarony

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

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Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Wayesh Qarony

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 4, Issue 5)

Received: 6 August 2015 Accepted: 17 August 2015 Published: 29 August 2015

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Abstract

We have introduced an approach to establish a methodology for 3D optical simulation that allows analyzing optical losses in the individual layers of a thin-film solar cell structure. Using commercial Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) tool, where Maxwell’s Curl equations were rigorously solved for optimizing such cells, a computer modeling has been performed. We have reported the ways to investigate efficient light-trapping schemes by using periodically textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. The optical effects in small area thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells deposited on glass substrates coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) have been addressed. In order to enhance the efficiency, TCO surface morphology has been analyzed, where pyramidal and parabolic textured surfaces have been used. For these cells, the quantum efficiency, short-circuit current, total reflectance, and all absorption losses have been successfully computed and analyzed. The investigation was carried out based on our proposed model that exhibits maximum current density of 17.32 mA/cm2 for the absorbing layer thickness of 300 nm.

Published in	Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 4, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
Page(s)	56-61
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

FDTD, Light-trapping, Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell, p-i-n Thin Film, Quantum efficiency, Short-Circuit Current, Textured Surface, ZnO: Al, TCO

References

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[2]	J. Meier, J. Spitznagel, U. Kroll, C. Bucher, S. Faÿ, T. Moriarty, and A. Shah, “Potential of Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells,” Thin Solid Films, vol. 451-452, pp. 518-524, 2004.
[3]	Ping-Kuan Chang, Ting-Wei Kuo, Mau-Phon Houng, Chun-Hsiung Lu, Chih-Hung Yeh, “Effects of Temperature and Electrode Distance on Short-circuit Current in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells, ” pp. 175-178, 18-25 May 2012.
[4]	A. V. Shah, H. Schade, M. Vanecek, J. Meier, E. Vallat-Sauvain, N. Wyrsch, U. Kroll, C. Droz, and J. Bailat, “Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cell Technology,” Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, vol. 12, Issue 2-3, pp. 113–142, March–May 2004.
[5]	S. Fay¨, L. Feitknecht, R. Schlu¨ chter, U. Kroll, E. Vallat-Sauvain, A. Shah, “Rough ZnO Layers by LP-CVD Process and Their Effect in Improving Performances of Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells,” Institut de Microtechnique (IMT), Rue A. - L. Breguet 2, vol. 90, no. 18-19, pp. 2960-2967, 2000 Neuchaˆtel, Switzerland, Nov 2006.
[6]	J. Bailat, D. Dominé, R. Schlüchter, J. Steinhauser, S. Faÿ, F. Freitas, C. Bücher, L. Feitknecht, X. Niquille, T. Tscharner, A. Shah, C. Ballif, “High-Efficiency P-I-N Microcrystalline and Micromorph Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells deposited on LPCVD ZnO Coated Glass Substrates,” Institut de Microtechnique, University of Neuchâtel, Breguet 2, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 2006.
[7]	N. Bouchenak Khelladi, N. E. Chabane Sari, “Simulation Study of Optical Transmission Properties of ZnO Thin Film Deposited on Different Substrates”, American Journal of Optics and Photonics. Vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-5, 2013.
[8]	S. Lo, C. Chen, F. Garwe, and T. Pertch, “Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Coupler for a : Si Thin-Film Solar Sell,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 754, 2007.
[9]	C. Haase and H. Stiebig, “Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells with Efficient Periodic Light Trapping Texture,” Applied Physics Letter, vol. 91, pp. 061116, no. 6, 2007.
[10]	J. Yang, A. Banerjee, and S. Guha, “Triple-junction amorphous silicon alloy solar cell with 14.6% initial and 13.0% stable conversion efficiencies,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 70, no. 22, pp. 2975–2977, 1997.
[11]	K. Söderström, F.-J. Haug, J. Escarré, C. Pahud, R. Biron, and C. Ballif, “Highly reflective nanotextured sputtered silver back reflector for flexible high-efficiency n-i-p thin-film silicon solar cells,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 95, no. 12, pp. 3585–3591, 2011.
[12]	H. Sai, T. Koida, T. Matsui, I. Yoshida, K. Saito, and M. Kondo, “Microcrystalline silicon solar cells with 10.5% efficiency realized by improved photon absorption via periodic textures and highly transparent conductive oxide,” Applied Physics Express, vol. 6, no. 10, Article ID 104101, 2013.

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APA Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Wayesh Qarony. (2015). Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 4(5), 56-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

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ACS Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain; Wayesh Qarony. Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2015, 4(5), 56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

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AMA Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Wayesh Qarony. Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. J Energy Nat Resour. 2015;4(5):56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

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@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11,
  author = {Mohammad Ismail Hossain and Wayesh Qarony},
  title = {Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {4},
  number = {5},
  pages = {56-61},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20150405.11},
  abstract = {We have introduced an approach to establish a methodology for 3D optical simulation that allows analyzing optical losses in the individual layers of a thin-film solar cell structure. Using commercial Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) tool, where Maxwell’s Curl equations were rigorously solved for optimizing such cells, a computer modeling has been performed. We have reported the ways to investigate efficient light-trapping schemes by using periodically textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. The optical effects in small area thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells deposited on glass substrates coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) have been addressed. In order to enhance the efficiency, TCO surface morphology has been analyzed, where pyramidal and parabolic textured surfaces have been used. For these cells, the quantum efficiency, short-circuit current, total reflectance, and all absorption losses have been successfully computed and analyzed. The investigation was carried out based on our proposed model that exhibits maximum current density of 17.32 mA/cm2 for the absorbing layer thickness of 300 nm.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates
AU  - Mohammad Ismail Hossain
AU  - Wayesh Qarony
Y1  - 2015/08/29
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 56
EP  - 61
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
AB  - We have introduced an approach to establish a methodology for 3D optical simulation that allows analyzing optical losses in the individual layers of a thin-film solar cell structure. Using commercial Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) tool, where Maxwell’s Curl equations were rigorously solved for optimizing such cells, a computer modeling has been performed. We have reported the ways to investigate efficient light-trapping schemes by using periodically textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. The optical effects in small area thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells deposited on glass substrates coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) have been addressed. In order to enhance the efficiency, TCO surface morphology has been analyzed, where pyramidal and parabolic textured surfaces have been used. For these cells, the quantum efficiency, short-circuit current, total reflectance, and all absorption losses have been successfully computed and analyzed. The investigation was carried out based on our proposed model that exhibits maximum current density of 17.32 mA/cm2 for the absorbing layer thickness of 300 nm.
VL  - 4
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Mohammad Ismail Hossain

American International University-Bangladesh, Kemal Ataturk Avenue Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Wayesh Qarony

American International University-Bangladesh, Kemal Ataturk Avenue Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Wayesh Qarony. (2015). Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 4(5), 56-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

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ACS Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain; Wayesh Qarony. Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2015, 4(5), 56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Wayesh Qarony. Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates. J Energy Nat Resour. 2015;4(5):56-61. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11,
  author = {Mohammad Ismail Hossain and Wayesh Qarony},
  title = {Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {4},
  number = {5},
  pages = {56-61},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20150405.11},
  abstract = {We have introduced an approach to establish a methodology for 3D optical simulation that allows analyzing optical losses in the individual layers of a thin-film solar cell structure. Using commercial Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) tool, where Maxwell’s Curl equations were rigorously solved for optimizing such cells, a computer modeling has been performed. We have reported the ways to investigate efficient light-trapping schemes by using periodically textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. The optical effects in small area thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells deposited on glass substrates coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) have been addressed. In order to enhance the efficiency, TCO surface morphology has been analyzed, where pyramidal and parabolic textured surfaces have been used. For these cells, the quantum efficiency, short-circuit current, total reflectance, and all absorption losses have been successfully computed and analyzed. The investigation was carried out based on our proposed model that exhibits maximum current density of 17.32 mA/cm2 for the absorbing layer thickness of 300 nm.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optical Modeling of Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Deposited on Nano-Textured Glass Substrates
AU  - Mohammad Ismail Hossain
AU  - Wayesh Qarony
Y1  - 2015/08/29
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 56
EP  - 61
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20150405.11
AB  - We have introduced an approach to establish a methodology for 3D optical simulation that allows analyzing optical losses in the individual layers of a thin-film solar cell structure. Using commercial Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) tool, where Maxwell’s Curl equations were rigorously solved for optimizing such cells, a computer modeling has been performed. We have reported the ways to investigate efficient light-trapping schemes by using periodically textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) in thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells. The optical effects in small area thin film silicon p-i-n solar cells deposited on glass substrates coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) have been addressed. In order to enhance the efficiency, TCO surface morphology has been analyzed, where pyramidal and parabolic textured surfaces have been used. For these cells, the quantum efficiency, short-circuit current, total reflectance, and all absorption losses have been successfully computed and analyzed. The investigation was carried out based on our proposed model that exhibits maximum current density of 17.32 mA/cm2 for the absorbing layer thickness of 300 nm.
VL  - 4
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download