Multi-type particle layer improved light trapping for photovoltaic applications

摘要

This work discusses regular particle arrays as nanostructured front layers for possible application in photovoltaic devices yielding strongly increased forward scattering. I used a rigorous plane-wave method to investigate multi-type particle layers combining different radii and configurations. The absorbance was enhanced compared to the bare Si wafer and I demonstrated on mixing particles a broadband boost in the absorbance within the homogeneous wafer region, excluding parasitic absorption in the particle layer. I studied the efficiency enhancement for varying geometries. Multi-type layers made of Si disks with two different radii achieved up to 33% (24%) and with four different radii up to 40% (30%) improvement in the short circuit current and integrated absorbance, respectively, without yet standard anti-reflection coatings. Broadband efficiency enhancement for metal multi-type layers was not observed because they show strong parasitic absorption and boost the absorbance only in narrow wavelength regions. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America