129
© National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC 2021
M. Alston, T. N. Lambert (eds.), Energy-Sustainable Advanced Materials,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57492-5_5
Efficient Light Harvesting
in the Nanotextured Thin Film Solar Cells
Mohammad Mahdi Tavakoli
Abstract Nanostructures have a great role for boosting the efficiency of the photovoltaic devices by trapping the light beams and increasing the absorption as well as
carrier collection. This chapter summarizes the most recent light management
approaches in the thin film solar cells. First, the effects of various nanostructures in
terms of geometry, pitch size, and aspect ratio on the optoelectronics properties of
devices are discussed in detail. Later, the applications of the nanostructures as antireflection layers and device substrates in the solar cells are explained. Then, their
advantages and possible mechanisms are discussed to have a better understanding
from the nanostructured-based devices. Additionally, the issues induced by nanostructures and the possible solutions for addressing these shortenings are proposed
in this chapter.
Keywords Thin film solar cell · Light management · Nanostructure · Geometry ·
Efficiency · Light absorption · Anti-reflection · Self-cleaning property ·
Superhydrophobicity · Flexibility · Lambertian limit · Recombination · Carrier
collection
1 Introduction
Light management in a solar cell device is a key strategy to enhance the solar to
electric power conversion efficiency (PCE). Integrating of solar cells with nanostructures has been focus of many research groups to revolutionize the device architectures. Nanotextured structures not only improve the light absorption properties
but also reduce the thickness of light absorbers and materials consumption. Also,
they can improve the charge carrier collection by controlling the mean free path of
the carriers. Basically, the nanotextured patterns are associated with maximizing the
short-circuit current density (J sc ) of devices. Depending on the device architecture,
it can influence on other photovoltaic (PV) parameters such as open circuit
M. M. Tavakoli (*)
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
e-mail: mtavakol@mit.edu
© National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC 2021
M. Alston, T. N. Lambert (eds.), Energy-Sustainable Advanced Materials,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57492-5_5
Efficient Light Harvesting
in the Nanotextured Thin Film Solar Cells
Mohammad Mahdi Tavakoli
Abstract Nanostructures have a great role for boosting the efficiency of the photovoltaic devices by trapping the light beams and increasing the absorption as well as
carrier collection. This chapter summarizes the most recent light management
approaches in the thin film solar cells. First, the effects of various nanostructures in
terms of geometry, pitch size, and aspect ratio on the optoelectronics properties of
devices are discussed in detail. Later, the applications of the nanostructures as antireflection layers and device substrates in the solar cells are explained. Then, their
advantages and possible mechanisms are discussed to have a better understanding
from the nanostructured-based devices. Additionally, the issues induced by nanostructures and the possible solutions for addressing these shortenings are proposed
in this chapter.
Keywords Thin film solar cell · Light management · Nanostructure · Geometry ·
Efficiency · Light absorption · Anti-reflection · Self-cleaning property ·
Superhydrophobicity · Flexibility · Lambertian limit · Recombination · Carrier
collection
1 Introduction
Light management in a solar cell device is a key strategy to enhance the solar to
electric power conversion efficiency (PCE). Integrating of solar cells with nanostructures has been focus of many research groups to revolutionize the device architectures. Nanotextured structures not only improve the light absorption properties
but also reduce the thickness of light absorbers and materials consumption. Also,
they can improve the charge carrier collection by controlling the mean free path of
the carriers. Basically, the nanotextured patterns are associated with maximizing the
short-circuit current density (J sc ) of devices. Depending on the device architecture,
it can influence on other photovoltaic (PV) parameters such as open circuit
M. M. Tavakoli (*)
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
e-mail: mtavakol@mit.edu