Progress and prospects for ultrathin solar cells

Inès Massiot, Andrea Cattoni and Stéphane Collin ()
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Inès Massiot: Laboratoire d’Analyse et d’Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS-CNRS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS
Andrea Cattoni: Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), CNRS UMR 9001, Université Paris-Saclay
Stéphane Collin: Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), CNRS UMR 9001, Université Paris-Saclay

Nature Energy, 2020, vol. 5, issue 12, 959-972

Abstract: Abstract Ultrathin solar cells with thicknesses at least 10 times lower than conventional solar cells could have the unique potential to efficiently convert solar energy into electricity while enabling material savings, shorter deposition times and improved carrier collection in defective absorber materials. Efficient light absorption and hence high power conversion efficiency could be retained in ultrathin absorbers using light-trapping structures that enhance the optical path. Nevertheless, several technical challenges prevent the realization of a practical device. Here we review the state-of-the-art of c-Si, GaAs and Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 ultrathin solar cells and compare their optical performances against theoretical light-trapping models. We then address challenges in the fabrication of ultrathin absorber layers and in nanoscale patterning of light-trapping structures and discuss strategies to ensure efficient charge collection. Finally, we propose practical architectures for ultrathin solar cells that combine photonic and electrical constraints, and identify future research directions and potential applications of ultrathin photovoltaic technologies.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-00714-4

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