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Light Management in Thin-Film Solar Cell

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Next Generation of Photovoltaics

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Optical Sciences ((SSOS,volume 165))

Abstract

Employment of advanced light management techniques presents an important aspect in the design of thin-film solar cells. In this chapter, we highlight a number of light management approaches leading towards higher cell performances. Efficient light scattering within the cell, which can boost the photocurrent generation, can be achieved by optimised surface textures. Random textures and periodic textures for efficient light scattering are addressed. Besides surface texturing, the role of metal nanoparticles in thin-film solar cell structures is investigated in the scope of improved light trapping. To minimise optical losses, antireflective coatings and advanced back reflectors are employed. As examples, photonic crystal structures and diffusive dielectric materials are presented. And finally, better utilisation of the solar spectrum can be achieved by multi-bandgap multi-junction cells. For efficient spectrum harvesting, a concept of wavelength-selective intermediate reflectors is investigated. Further on, a concept of spectrum splitting and dislocated cells connected in a multi-terminal configuration is presented.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Miro Zeman and other members of PVMD laboratory at DIMES Institute, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, for support on a–Si:H-based solar cell structures and for useful discussions. Takuji Oyama from Asahi Glass Corp., Japan, is acknowledged for support on double-textured TCO superstrates. Martina Schmid from Helmholz Zentrum Berlin, Germany, is acknowledged for useful discussions on chalcopyrite tandems. Finally, Slovenian Research Agency is acknowledged for funding related to this work (Project No. P2-0197 and J2-0851-1538-08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Janez Krč & Benjamin Lipovšek

  2. Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

    Marko Topič

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  1. Janez Krč
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  2. Benjamin Lipovšek
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. E.T.S.I. Telecommunicacion, Inst. Energia Solar, Universidad Politéchnica de Madrid, Avda. de la Complutense s/n, Madrid, 28041, Spain

    Ana Belén Cristóbal López

  2. E.T.S.I. Telecommunicacion, Inst. Energia Solar, Universidad Politéchnica de Madrid, Avda. de la Complutense s/n, Madrid, 28041, Spain

    Antonio Martí Vega

  3. E.T.S.I. Telecommunicacion, Inst. Energia Solar, Universidad Politéchnica de Madrid, Avda. de la Complutense s/n, Madrid, 28041, Spain

    Antonio Luque López

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Krč, J., Lipovšek, B., Topič, M. (2012). Light Management in Thin-Film Solar Cell. In: Cristóbal López, A., Martí Vega, A., Luque López, A. (eds) Next Generation of Photovoltaics. Springer Series in Optical Sciences, vol 165. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23369-2_4

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