Broadband absorption enhancement in thin film solar cells using inverse optimization of light trapping mechanisms

Shima Hajimirza, Alex Heltzel, John Howell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper, global optimization techniques are used to design broadband solar absorption enhancement in thin film amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells, using periodic nanostructures on the top and bottom surfaces of the cell. Considering a combination of silver rectangular gratings and indium tin oxide (ITO) coatings on both surfaces of the a-Si, numerical optimization techniques such as Simulated Annealing and a local constrained Quasi-Newton algorithm are used to optimize the surface texture patterns. Numerical results indicate that, unlike the case of metallic gratings on the front surface, a periodic silver grating structure on the back surface results in a modification of the absorption spectrum largely independent of the effect of anti-reflection ITO coatings on the front of the cell. Furthermore, additional improvement can be obtained by using a thin rear surface ITO layers. Therefore, using a combination of metallic gratings and ITO coatings on both sides, a wideband absorption spectrum enhancement is achievable. Simulations predict integrated enhancement factors as high as 2.0 (100% improvement) for the case of metallic grating on the back surface and ITO layers on the front, and as high as 2.2 (120% improvement) when a combination of grating and ITO coatings on both sides is used. Such noteworthy improvements are made possible by efficient multi-parameter optimization supplanting an intractable exhaustive search.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASME 2012 3rd International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer, MNHMT 2012
Pages559-567
Number of pages9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
EventASME 2012 3rd International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer, MNHMT 2012 - Atlanta, GA, United States
Duration: 3 Mar 20126 Mar 2012

Publication series

NameASME 2012 3rd International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer, MNHMT 2012

Conference

ConferenceASME 2012 3rd International Conference on Micro/Nanoscale Heat and Mass Transfer, MNHMT 2012
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta, GA
Period3/03/126/03/12

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Broadband absorption enhancement in thin film solar cells using inverse optimization of light trapping mechanisms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this