Improve GaAs solar cells efficiency by using high-transmittance textured PDMS film

H. V. Han; H. C. Chen; C. C. Lin; Y. L. Tsai; H. C. Kuo; Peichen Yu

doi:10.1117/12.2003127

25 March 2013 Improve GaAs solar cells efficiency by using high-transmittance textured PDMS film

H. V. Han, H. C. Chen, C. C. Lin, Y. L. Tsai, H. C. Kuo, Peichen Yu

Proceedings Volume 8620, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices II; 86201V (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2003127
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We demonstrate the GaAs solar cells which utilize the high-transmittance textured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film can outstanding increase the short circuit current density and power conversion efficiency of solar cells. The transmittance of PDMS film is exceeded 90%, which can pass through almost all the light of GaAs Solar cells can be absorbed. We used a special imprint technology to let the PDMS film possess a highly textured surface. Then we measured the characteristics of textured PDMS film and found out that it has a very excellent Haze performance. The effect of flexible textured PDMS film on the suppression of surface reflection in GaAs solar cells is also investigated. The presented technology provides an inexpensive surface anti-reflection process, which can potentially replace typically complex anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer. The GaAs solar cells with textured PDMS layer can effectively enhance the short-circuit current density from 22.91 to 26.54 mA/cm² and the power conversion efficiency from 18.28 to 21.43 %, corresponding to a 17 % enhancement compared to the one without textured PDMS. The open-circuit voltage (V_oc) and the fill-factor (FF) of GaAs solar cells exhibit negligible change, because the textured PDMS film was pasted up on the surface of GaAs solar cells and did not interfere with the diode operation. At the same time, we observed through the EQE measurement that the textured PDMS film not only proved wonderful light scattering effect but also generated more electron-hole pairs in all absorption spectrum range. Finally, through this simple PDMS process, we believe this technology shall be a great candidate for next generation of highly efficient and low-cost photovoltaic devices.

Citation Download Citation

H. V. Han, H. C. Chen, C. C. Lin, Y. L. Tsai, H. C. Kuo, and Peichen Yu "Improve GaAs solar cells efficiency by using high-transmittance textured PDMS film", Proc. SPIE 8620, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices II, 86201V (25 March 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2003127

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
6 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Solar cells

Gallium arsenide

Light scattering

External quantum efficiency

Photovoltaics

Transmittance

Silica

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years