Search

Light trapping is a crucial factor to improve the photocurrent response in thin film solar cells. In this paper, a light trapping scheme is demonstrated by placing Ag nanocylinders on the rear surface of thin film GaAs solar cells. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulations were used for parametric optimization of rear-located Ag nanocylinders. The results reveal that the radius, height and period of nanocylinders play crucial role in photocurrent enhancement. The maximum photocurrent of 19.47mA/cm2 is obtained for nanocylinders with radius 30nm, height 90nm and period 80nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of single and double layer antireflection coatings on the performance of thin film GaAs solar cells are investigated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulation method. The reflection and short circuit current density of thin film GaAs solar cells are calculated over the wavelength range from 400 to 900nm. Results show that the reflectivity can be greatly reduced using single and double layer antireflection coatings. The current density attains a maximum value of 25.25mA/cm² for double layer antireflection coatings of MgF2 / TiO2 while for single layer antireflection coating of Ta2O5 it attains a value of 23.85mA/cm². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a structure is proposed consisting of Al nanoparticle array, thin GaAs layer and silicon dioxide as back reflector. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulation method was used to calculate optical absorption and current density of thin film GaAs solar cells having Al nanoparticle array. By optimizing the radius and period of Al nanoparticles to maximize plasmonic scattering effect, a significant enhancement in optical absorption and current density is achieved. Simulation results show that average absorption was enhanced by 28% and current density integrated over solar spectrum by 29% as compared to bare GaAs solar cells at optimized radius of 80nm and period 300nm. An enhanced conversion efficiency of about 1.31 is also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption efficiency of cadmium compounds, prospective nanosolar cell materials, as spherical nanoparticles of radius less than 100 nm and effect of surrounding medium refractive index on them have been studied by Mie Plot. It is found that the absorption efficiency of CdSe, CdS, and CdTe increases with radius of the nanoparticle and also the UV-Visible absorption spectra shifts towards red. The maximum of absorption efficiency is observed at 80 nm radius and is in visible region for all the selected materials. Also with increase in surrounding refractive index, the absorption efficiency is found to be decreasing and absorption spectra is blue-shifted. For all these presently selected cadmium compounds, CdTe possess highest efficiency as compared to both CdS and CdSe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]