Multi-type particle layer enhanced absorption for photovoltaics

TL;DR

This paper investigates multi-type particle layers as nanostructured front layers in photovoltaic devices, demonstrating broadband absorbance enhancement and efficiency improvements through rigorous simulations, with notable gains in silicon layers.

Contribution

It introduces the use of multi-type particle arrays with different radii and configurations to enhance light absorption in photovoltaic cells, showing significant efficiency improvements.

Findings

Silicon multi-type layers achieved up to 33% efficiency improvement.

Broadband absorbance boost within the photo-active region.

Metal layers show limited benefit due to parasitic absorption.

Abstract

We discuss regular particle arrays as nanostructured front layers for 3rd generation photovoltaic devices. A rigorous plane-wave method is used to investigate multi-type particle layers combining different radii and configurations. The absorbance is enhanced compared to the bare wafer and on mixing particles we demonstrate a broadband boost in the absorbance within the photo-active region. Efficiency enhancement in terms of short circuit current is studied for varying geometries. Si multi-type layers achieved up to 33% improvement without yet standard anti-reflection coatings. Metal multi-type layers show strong parasitic absorption and boost the absorbance only in narrow wavelength regions and no efficiency enhancement is observed.