Efficiently Harvesting Sun Light for Silicon Solar Cells through Advanced Optical Couplers and A Radial p-n Junction Structure

Hsin-Cheng Lee, Shich-Chuan Wu, Tien-Chung Yang and Ta-Jen Yen
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Hsin-Cheng Lee: Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan
Shich-Chuan Wu: National Nano Device Laboratories, Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Tien-Chung Yang: Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan
Ta-Jen Yen: Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan

Energies, 2010, vol. 3, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Silicon-based solar cells (SCs) promise to be an alternative energy source mainly due to: (1) a high efficiency-to-cost ratio, (2) the absence of environmental-degradation issues, and (3) great reliability. Transition from wafer-based to thin-film SC significantly reduces the cost of SCs, including the cost from the material itself and the fabrication process. However, as the thickness of the absorption (or the active) layer decreases, the energy-conversion efficiency drops dramatically. As a consequence, we discuss here three techniques to increase the efficiency of silicon-based SCs: (1) photonic crystal (PC) optical couplers and (2) plasmonic optical couplers to increase efficiency of light absorption in the SCs, and (3) a radial p-n junction structure, decomposing light absorption and diffusion path into two orthogonal directions. The detailed mechanisms and recent research progress regarding these techniques are discussed in this review article.

Keywords: solar energy; silicon solar cells; thin-film solar cells; photovoltaics; photonic crystals; surface plasmon; particles plasmon; plasmonic structure; radial p-n junction; silicon nanowires (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: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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