Enhancing the Performance of Textured Silicon Solar Cells by Combining Up-Conversion with Plasmonic Scattering

Wen-Jeng Ho, Wei-Chen Lin, Jheng-Jie Liu, Hong-Jhang Syu and Ching-Fuh Lin
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Wen-Jeng Ho: Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxial East Road, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Wei-Chen Lin: Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxial East Road, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Jheng-Jie Liu: Department of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Zhongxial East Road, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Hong-Jhang Syu: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Ching-Fuh Lin: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: This paper experimentally demonstrates the benefits of combining an up-conversion (UC) layer containing Yb/Er-doped yttrium oxide-based phosphors with a plasmonic scattering layer containing indium nanoparticles (In-NPs) in enhancing the photovoltaic performance of textured silicon solar cells. The optical emissions of the Yb/Er-doped phosphors were characterized using photoluminescence measurements obtained at room temperature. Optical microscope images and photo current-voltage curves were used to characterize the UC emissions of Yb/Er-doped phosphors under illumination from a laser diode with a wavelength of 1550 nm. The plasmonic effects of In NPs were assessed in terms of absorbance and Raman scattering. The performance of the textured solar cells was evaluated in terms of optical reflectance, external quantum efficiency, and photovoltaic performance. The analysis was performed on cells with and without a UC layer containing Yb/Er-doped yttrium oxide-based phosphors of various concentrations. The analysis was also performed on cells with a UC layer in conjunction with a plasmonic scattering layer. The absolute conversion efficiency of the textured silicon solar cell with a combination of up-conversion and plasmonic-scattering layers (15.43%) exceeded that of the cell with an up-conversion layer only (14.94%) and that of the reference cell (14.45%).

Keywords: indium nanoparticles; photovoltaic performance; phosphors; plasmonic scattering; up-conversion; yttrium oxide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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