Design and analysis of spectrally selective patterned thin-film cells

Shima Hajimirza, John R. Howell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper outlines several techniques for systematic and efficient optimization as well as sensitivity assessment to fabrication tolerances of surface texturing patterns in thin film amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells. The aim is to achieve maximum absorption enhancement. The joint optimization of several geometrical parameters of a three-dimensional lattice of periodic square silver nanoparticles, and an absorbing thin layer of a-Si, using constrained optimization tools and numerical FDTD simulations is reported. Global and local optimization methods, such as the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno quasi-Newton method and simulated annealing, are employed concurrently for solving the inverse near-field radiation problem. The design of the silver-patterned solar panel is optimized to yield maximum average enhancement in photon absorption over the solar spectrum. The optimization techniques are expedited and improved using a novel nonuniform adaptive spectral sampling technique. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the optimally designed parameters of the solar structure is analyzed by postulating a probabilistic model for the errors introduced in the fabrication process. Monte Carlo simulations and unscented transform techniques are used for this purpose.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1930-1952
Number of pages23
JournalInternational Journal of Thermophysics
Volume34
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • Fabrication error
  • Inverse optimization
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Thin-film solar cells

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Design and analysis of spectrally selective patterned thin-film cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this