A novel light trapping concept for liquid phase crystallized poly-Si thin-film solar cells on periodically nanoimprinted glass substrates

V. Preidel; D. Amkreutz; T. Sontheimer; F. Back; E. Rudigier-Voigt; B. Rech; C. Becker

doi:10.1117/12.2023989

11 September 2013 A novel light trapping concept for liquid phase crystallized poly-Si thin-film solar cells on periodically nanoimprinted glass substrates

V. Preidel, D. Amkreutz, T. Sontheimer, F. Back, E. Rudigier-Voigt, B. Rech, C. Becker

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8823, Thin Film Solar Technology V; 882307 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023989
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Large grained polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) absorbers were realized by electron beam induced liquid phase crystallization on 2 μm periodically patterned glass substrates and processed into a-Si:H/poly-Si heterojunction thin-film solar cells. The substrates were structured by nanoimprint lithography using a UV curable hybrid polymer sol-gel resist, resulting in a glassy high-temperature stable micro-structured surface. Structural analysis yielded high quality poly-Si material with grain sizes up to several hundred micrometers. An increase of absorption and an enhancement of the external quantum efficiency in the NIR as a consequence of light trapping due to the micro-structured poly-Si/substrate interface were observed. Up to now, only moderate solar cell parameters, a maximum open-circuit voltage of 413 mV and a short-circuit current density of 8 mA cm^-2, were measured being significantly lower to what can be achieved with liquid phase crystallized poly-Si thin-film solar cells on planar glass substrates indicating that the substrate texture has impact on the electrical material quality. By reduction of the SiC interlayer thickness at the micro-structured poly- Si/substrate interface defect-related parasitic absorption was considerably minimized. This encourages the implementation of nanoimprinted tailored substrate textures for light trapping in liquid phase crystallized poly-Si thinfilm solar cells.

Citation Download Citation

V. Preidel, D. Amkreutz, T. Sontheimer, F. Back, E. Rudigier-Voigt, B. Rech, and C. Becker "A novel light trapping concept for liquid phase crystallized poly-Si thin-film solar cells on periodically nanoimprinted glass substrates", Proc. SPIE 8823, Thin Film Solar Technology V, 882307 (11 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023989

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available