Absorption enhancement in a-Si thin-film solar cells based on silver nanopillar arrays

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell. Silver nanopillar arrays on indium tin oxide layer of the a-Si thin-film solar cells were designed.

Design/methodology/approach

The effects of the geometrical parameters such as nanopillar radius (R) and array period (P) were investigated by using the finite element simulation.

Findings

The optimization results show that the absorption of the solar cell with Ag nanopillar structure and anti-reflection film is enhanced up to 29.5 per cent under AM1.5 illumination in the 300- to 800-nm wavelength range compared with the reference cell. Furthermore, physical mechanisms of absorption enhancement at different wavelength range are discussed according to the electrical field amplitude distributions in the solar cells.

Research limitations/implications

The research is still in progress. Further studies mainly focus on the performance of solar cells with different nanograting materials.

Practical implications

This study provides a feasible method for light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for a-Si thin-film solar cell.

Originality/value

This study is promising for the design of a-Si thin-film solar cells with enhanced performance.

Citation

Qu, B., Zhang, P., Luo, J., Yang, S. and Chen, Y. (2018), "Absorption enhancement in a-Si thin-film solar cells based on silver nanopillar arrays", Microelectronics International, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 211-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/MI-09-2017-0044