Comparison and optimization of randomly textured surfaces in thin-film solar cells

C. Rockstuhl; S. Fahr; K. Bittkau; T. Beckers; R. Carius; F.-J. Haug; T. Söderström; C. Ballif; F. Lederer

doi:10.1364/OE.18.00A335

Optics Express
Vol. 18,
Issue S3,
pp. A335-A342
(2010)
•https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.00A335

Comparison and optimization of randomly textured surfaces in thin-film solar cells

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, R. Carius, F.-J. Haug, T. Söderström, C. Ballif, and F. Lederer

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C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, R. Carius, F.-J. Haug, T. Söderström, C. Ballif, and F. Lederer, "Comparison and optimization of randomly textured surfaces in thin-film solar cells," Opt. Express 18, A335-A342 (2010)

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Abstract

Using rigorous diffraction theory we investigate the scattering properties of various random textures currently used for photon management in thin-film solar cells. We relate the haze and the angularly resolved scattering function of these cells to the enhancement of light absorption. A simple criterion is derived that provides an explanation why certain textures operate more beneficially than others. Using this criterion we propose a generic surface profile that outperforms the available substrates. This work facilitates the understanding of the effect of randomly textured surfaces and provides guidelines towards their optimization.

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References

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Year
Author
Publication

J. Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Imperial College Press2003).
Y. Hamakawa, Thin-Film Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Springer, Berlin, 2004).
J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]
J. C. Goldschmidt, M. Peters, A. Bösch, H. Helmers, F. Dimroth, S. W. Glunz, and G. Willeke, “Increasing the efficiency of fluorescent concentrator systems,” Sol. Energy Mat. Sol. Cells 93, 176 (2009).
[Crossref]
A. Čampa, J. Krč, and M. Topič, “Analysis and optimisation of microcrystalline silicon solar cells with periodic sinusoidal textured interfaces by two-dimensional optical simulations,” J. Appl. Phys. 105, 083107 (2009).
[Crossref]
P. Bermel, C. Luo, L. Zeng, L. C. Kimerling, and J. D. Joannopoulos, “Improving thin-film crystalline silicon solar cell efficiencies with photonic crystals,” Opt. Express 15, 16986 (2007).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
C. Rockstuhl and F. Lederer, “Photon management by metallic nanodiscs in thin film solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 213102 (2009).
[Crossref]
E. Yablonovitch and G. D. Cody, “Intensity Enhancement in Textured Optical Sheets for Solar Cells,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, 300 (1982).
[Crossref]
D. Fischer, S. Dubail, J. A. Anna Selvan, N. Pellaton Vaucher, R. Platz, C. Hof, U. Kroll, J. Meier, P. Torres, H. Keppner, N. Wyrsch, M. Goetz, A. Shah, and K.-D. Ufert, “The Micromorph Solar Cell: Extending a-Si:H Technology towards Thin Film Crystalline Silicon,” Proceedings of the 25th PVSEC, Washington DC, 1053 (1996).
C. Rockstuhl, F. Lederer, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, and R. Carius, “The impact of intermediate reflectors on light absorption in tandem solar cells with randomly textured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 211101 (2009).
[Crossref]
M. Berginski, J. Hüpkes, M. Schulte, G. Schöpe, H. Stiebig, and B. Rech, “The effect of front ZnO:Al surface texture and optical transparency on efficient light trapping in silicon thin-film solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 101, 074903 (2007).
[Crossref]
J. Krč, M. Zeman, O. Kluth, F. Smole, and M. Topič, “Effect of surface roughness of ZnO:Al films on light scattering in hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells,” Thin Solid Films 426, 296 (2003).
[Crossref]
D. Dominé, P. Buehlmann, J. Bailat, A. Billet, A. Feltrin, and C. Ballif, “Optical management in high-efficiency thin-film silicon micromorph solar cells with a silicon oxide based intermediate reflector,” Phys. Stat. Sol. (RRL)2, 163 (2008).
[Crossref]
K. Jäger and M. Zeman, “A scattering model for surface-textured thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171108 (2009).
[Crossref]
J. Steinhauser, S. Faÿ, N. Oliveira, E. Vallat-Sauvain, and C. Ballif, “Transition between grain boundary and intragrain scattering transport mechanisms in boron-doped zinc oxide thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 142107 (2007).
[Crossref]
C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, F. Lederer, T. Beckers, K. Bittkau, and R. Carius, “Local versus global absorption in thin-film solar cells with randomly textured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 061105 (2008).
[Crossref]
O. Vetterl, F. Finger, R. Carius, P. Hapke, L. Houben, O. Kluth, A. Lambertz, A. Mück, B. Rech, and H. Wagner, “Intrinsic microcrystalline silicon: A new material for photovoltaics,” Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 62, 97 (2000).
[Crossref]
A. Farjadpour, D. Roundy, A. Rodriguez, M. Ibanescu, P. Bermel, J. D. Joannopoulos, S. G. Johnson, and G. Burr, “Improving accuracy by subpixel smoothing in the finite-difference time domain,” Opt. Lett. 31, 2972 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]
H.P. Pillai, J. Krč, and M. Zeman, “Optical Modeling of a-Si:H Thin Film Solar Cells with Rough Interfaces,” Proceedings of SAFE 2001, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 159 (2001).
S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]
D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

2010 (1)

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

2009 (5)

A. Čampa, J. Krč, and M. Topič, “Analysis and optimisation of microcrystalline silicon solar cells with periodic sinusoidal textured interfaces by two-dimensional optical simulations,” J. Appl. Phys. 105, 083107 (2009).
[Crossref]

K. Jäger and M. Zeman, “A scattering model for surface-textured thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171108 (2009).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl, F. Lederer, K. Bittkau, T. Beckers, and R. Carius, “The impact of intermediate reflectors on light absorption in tandem solar cells with randomly textured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 211101 (2009).
[Crossref]

J. C. Goldschmidt, M. Peters, A. Bösch, H. Helmers, F. Dimroth, S. W. Glunz, and G. Willeke, “Increasing the efficiency of fluorescent concentrator systems,” Sol. Energy Mat. Sol. Cells 93, 176 (2009).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl and F. Lederer, “Photon management by metallic nanodiscs in thin film solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 213102 (2009).
[Crossref]

2008 (3)

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, F. Lederer, T. Beckers, K. Bittkau, and R. Carius, “Local versus global absorption in thin-film solar cells with randomly textured surfaces,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 061105 (2008).
[Crossref]

S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]

2007 (4)

P. Bermel, C. Luo, L. Zeng, L. C. Kimerling, and J. D. Joannopoulos, “Improving thin-film crystalline silicon solar cell efficiencies with photonic crystals,” Opt. Express 15, 16986 (2007).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

J. Steinhauser, S. Faÿ, N. Oliveira, E. Vallat-Sauvain, and C. Ballif, “Transition between grain boundary and intragrain scattering transport mechanisms in boron-doped zinc oxide thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 142107 (2007).
[Crossref]

M. Berginski, J. Hüpkes, M. Schulte, G. Schöpe, H. Stiebig, and B. Rech, “The effect of front ZnO:Al surface texture and optical transparency on efficient light trapping in silicon thin-film solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 101, 074903 (2007).
[Crossref]

2006 (1)

A. Farjadpour, D. Roundy, A. Rodriguez, M. Ibanescu, P. Bermel, J. D. Joannopoulos, S. G. Johnson, and G. Burr, “Improving accuracy by subpixel smoothing in the finite-difference time domain,” Opt. Lett. 31, 2972 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2003 (1)

J. Krč, M. Zeman, O. Kluth, F. Smole, and M. Topič, “Effect of surface roughness of ZnO:Al films on light scattering in hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells,” Thin Solid Films 426, 296 (2003).
[Crossref]

2000 (1)

O. Vetterl, F. Finger, R. Carius, P. Hapke, L. Houben, O. Kluth, A. Lambertz, A. Mück, B. Rech, and H. Wagner, “Intrinsic microcrystalline silicon: A new material for photovoltaics,” Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 62, 97 (2000).
[Crossref]

1982 (1)

E. Yablonovitch and G. D. Cody, “Intensity Enhancement in Textured Optical Sheets for Solar Cells,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, 300 (1982).
[Crossref]

Anna Selvan, J. A.

D. Fischer, S. Dubail, J. A. Anna Selvan, N. Pellaton Vaucher, R. Platz, C. Hof, U. Kroll, J. Meier, P. Torres, H. Keppner, N. Wyrsch, M. Goetz, A. Shah, and K.-D. Ufert, “The Micromorph Solar Cell: Extending a-Si:H Technology towards Thin Film Crystalline Silicon,” Proceedings of the 25th PVSEC, Washington DC, 1053 (1996).

Bailat, J.

D. Dominé, P. Buehlmann, J. Bailat, A. Billet, A. Feltrin, and C. Ballif, “Optical management in high-efficiency thin-film silicon micromorph solar cells with a silicon oxide based intermediate reflector,” Phys. Stat. Sol. (RRL)2, 163 (2008).
[Crossref]

Ballif, C.

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

Battaglia, C.

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

Beckers, T.

Berginski, M.

Bermel, P.

Billet, A.

Bittkau, K.

Bösch, A.

Buehlmann, P.

Burr, G.

Campa, A.

Carius, R.

Cody, G. D.

E. Yablonovitch and G. D. Cody, “Intensity Enhancement in Textured Optical Sheets for Solar Cells,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, 300 (1982).
[Crossref]

Dimroth, F.

Dominé, D.

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

Dubail, S.

Fahr, S.

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]

S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]

Farjadpour, A.

Faÿ, S.

Feltrin, A.

Finger, F.

Fischer, D.

Glunz, S. W.

Goetz, M.

Goldschmidt, J. C.

Hamakawa, Y.

Y. Hamakawa, Thin-Film Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Springer, Berlin, 2004).

Hapke, P.

Haug, F.-J.

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

Helmers, H.

Hof, C.

Houben, L.

Hüpkes, J.

Ibanescu, M.

Jäger, K.

K. Jäger and M. Zeman, “A scattering model for surface-textured thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171108 (2009).
[Crossref]

Joannopoulos, J. D.

Johnson, S. G.

Keppner, H.

Kimerling, L. C.

Kluth, O.

Krc, J.

H.P. Pillai, J. Krč, and M. Zeman, “Optical Modeling of a-Si:H Thin Film Solar Cells with Rough Interfaces,” Proceedings of SAFE 2001, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 159 (2001).

Kroll, U.

Lambertz, A.

Lederer, F.

C. Rockstuhl and F. Lederer, “Photon management by metallic nanodiscs in thin film solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 213102 (2009).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]

S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]

Luo, C.

Meier, J.

Mück, A.

Müller, J.

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

Nelson, J.

J. Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Imperial College Press2003).

Oliveira, N.

Pellaton Vaucher, N.

Peters, M.

Pillai, H.P.

H.P. Pillai, J. Krč, and M. Zeman, “Optical Modeling of a-Si:H Thin Film Solar Cells with Rough Interfaces,” Proceedings of SAFE 2001, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 159 (2001).

Platz, R.

Rech, B.

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

Rockstuhl, C.

C. Rockstuhl and F. Lederer, “Photon management by metallic nanodiscs in thin film solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 213102 (2009).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]

S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]

Rodriguez, A.

Roundy, D.

Schöpe, G.

Schulte, M.

Shah, A.

Smole, F.

Springer, J.

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

Steinhauser, J.

Stiebig, H.

Topic, M.

Torres, P.

Ufert, K.-D.

Vallat-Sauvain, E.

Vanecek, M.

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

Vetterl, O.

Wagner, H.

Willeke, G.

Wyrsch, N.

Yablonovitch, E.

E. Yablonovitch and G. D. Cody, “Intensity Enhancement in Textured Optical Sheets for Solar Cells,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, 300 (1982).
[Crossref]

Zeman, M.

K. Jäger and M. Zeman, “A scattering model for surface-textured thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171108 (2009).
[Crossref]

H.P. Pillai, J. Krč, and M. Zeman, “Optical Modeling of a-Si:H Thin Film Solar Cells with Rough Interfaces,” Proceedings of SAFE 2001, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 159 (2001).

Zeng, L.

Appl. Phys. Lett. (6)

C. Rockstuhl and F. Lederer, “Photon management by metallic nanodiscs in thin film solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 213102 (2009).
[Crossref]

K. Jäger and M. Zeman, “A scattering model for surface-textured thin films,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171108 (2009).
[Crossref]

S. Fahr, C. Rockstuhl, and F. Lederer, “Engineering the randomness for enhanced absorption in solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 171114 (2008).
[Crossref]

IEEE Trans. Electron Devices (1)

E. Yablonovitch and G. D. Cody, “Intensity Enhancement in Textured Optical Sheets for Solar Cells,” IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, 300 (1982).
[Crossref]

J. Appl. Phys. (4)

D. Dominé, F.-J. Haug, C. Battaglia, and C. Ballif, “Modeling of light scattering from micro- and nanotextured surfaces,” J. Appl. Phys. 107, 044504 (2010).
[Crossref]

C. Rockstuhl, S. Fahr, and F. Lederer, “Absorption enhancement in solar cells by localized plasmon polaritons,” J. Appl. Phys. 104, 123102 (2008).
[Crossref]

Opt. Express (1)

Opt. Lett. (1)

Sol. Energy (1)

J. Müller, B. Rech, J. Springer, and M. Vanecek, “TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells,” Sol. Energy 77, 917 (2007).
[Crossref]

Sol. Energy Mat. Sol. Cells (1)

Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells (1)

Thin Solid Films (1)

Other (5)

J. Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Imperial College Press2003).

Y. Hamakawa, Thin-Film Solar Cells, 1st ed. (Springer, Berlin, 2004).

H.P. Pillai, J. Krč, and M. Zeman, “Optical Modeling of a-Si:H Thin Film Solar Cells with Rough Interfaces,” Proceedings of SAFE 2001, Veldhoven, The Netherlands, 159 (2001).

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Fig. 1 Topology of the various considered randomly textured surfaces. (a) the Jülich substrate, (b) the Neuchâtel substrate, (c) the commercial substrate Asahi-U, and (d) a generic topography as a result of optimization in this work. The sequence of layers of the cell is shown in (e).

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Fig. 2 (a) Haze for different substrates where the surface separates TCO and a medium whose refractive index n is subject to variation. (b) The ARS function for the different substrates if the adjacent medium has a refractive index of n = 4. Data is rigorously calculated at a wavelength of 633 nm. Lines are only guide to the eyes.

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Fig. 3 Absorption enhancement of a thin-film solar cell with different textured surfaces. Results for a wavelength of 633 nm are shown in (a) and for a wavelength of 720 nm in (b). The geometry of the solar cell is described in the main body of the text. Three different thicknesses for the a-Si:H layers were considered and the different quality factors

A_{Int} σ_{A}^{2}

signify different substrates. The link between the quality factor and the substrate is shown in (b). The absorption enhancement at a wavelength of 633 nm is furthermore shown in (c) where it was assumed that the medium of the infinite half space into which the light is scattered is air. The lines in (a)–(c) are only guide to the eyes which connect the different data points. In (d) we finally show the results of the absorption enhancement depending on the merit criterion. The data points were generated by scaling the height of the Neuchâtel profile and evaluating the scattering response against air as the medium of the second infinite half space and its ability to enhance the absorption at 633 nm for a 250 nm a-Si:H thickness for each texture individually .

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Equations (1)

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h a z e = lim_{r \to \infty} [\frac{\int_{0}^{π} \int_{0}^{2 π} S_{r} (r, θ, ϕ) d θ d ϕ - S_{r} (r, 0, 0)}{\int_{0}^{π} \int_{0}^{2 π} S_{r} (r, θ, ϕ) d θ d ϕ}]