Photonic integrated circuits are a promising technology for quantum applications, which are known to impose stringent requirements on the performance characteristics of utilized components. Besides achieving high efficiency of active photonic components, low optical losses of waveguiding and coupling structures are of the same importance. In this contribution we focus on the analysis of optical losses related to waveguiding of single photons generated by InAs quantum dots in GaAs strip waveguides. We perform a simulation study of the effects of GaAs waveguide nanoscale surface roughness on the waveguide propagation losses. This study is also supported by experimental data on line edge roughness and surface roughness of fabricated GaAs waveguides determined from SEM and AFM analyses. The roughness applied in simulation is based on the statistical properties of this data. The results of our analysis strengthen our understanding of scattering losses and their individual contributing factors. We also conclude that for the investigated GaAs waveguides the contribution of scattering on the waveguide top surface roughness to the propagation losses is very small compared to the contribution of sidewall scattering.
Evanescent coupling between optical waveguides (WGs) in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is the origin of unwanted optical cross-talk between adjacent WG structures. Employing an all-dielectric metamaterial cladding, consisting of two periodically exchanging dielectric materials, can potentially reduce the cross-talk between WGs, and thus, paves the way towards higher integration density. In this contribution we present the results of numerical simulations in the process of optimization of all-dielectric metamaterial cladding of silicon strip WGs to achieve the lowest possible gap width between WG cores that still satisfies the chosen reference cross-talk level (-30 dB at the distance of 2 mm). We also investigate how the performance of WGs with metamaterial cladding is affected, if the metamaterial cladding is present only in the spacing between WGs. We show that the gap width can be in best case decreased by 60 % representing a 45 % improvement in integration density for the case of 450 nm core width. We also investigate the wavelength dependence of effects and determine the usable wavelength range of optimized structures. Furthermore, we extend the study to account for fabrication variability of the sub-wavelength structures. A general trend is observed that structures with the lowest achieved gap width exhibit the narrowest wavelength range and the highest sensitivity to fabrication variability. However, we still demonstrate a sizable decrease in gap width of 37 % and a relatively wide usable wavelength range of > 75 nm when accounting for a feature size variation in the range of ± 5 nm.
External light-outcoupling structures in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) present an efficient and cost-effective solution to improve optical performance of devices. External structures can be realized, for example, by applying a microtextured foil on the emitting side of the device. We employ advanced three-dimensional optical simulations to investigate the effects of OLED structures with different external textures in relation to different emitting dipole orientations and layer thicknesses of the OLED stack. We investigate light outcoupling of a red, ITO free, large-area, bottom-emitting OLED, by applying various sinusoidal and pyramid-like external microtextures in periodic (rectangular and hexagonal) and random arrangements. It is shown that there are minimal differences in outcoupling efficiency for the optimized textures for different texture feature shapes, under condition that sufficiently high aspect ratio (height / period) of the texture is applied. With optimized external texture with three-sided micropyramids, horizontally aligned dipole sources and optimized layer thicknesses of OLED stack more than 62 % outcoupling efficiency is predicted. Interestingly, the results show that the highest efficiencies for individual orientation of dipoles, can be achieved with the same shape and size of the texture, regardless of the preferential orientation of the emitting dipoles, which simplifies further research and development of external light extraction.
Nature provides many examples of surface structures with multiple functionalities. Some of those, such as light management and self-cleaning, are of interest for increasing the efficiency of optoelectronic devices, such as OLEDs, and for adding new surface functions. However, mimicking and transferring these textures to polymers over large areas often requires complex processes at high costs. Here, we demonstrate a low-cost strategy to fabricate hierarchically textured polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films by plate-to-plate hot embossing. Laser-machined stainless-steel plates with doublescaled hole-like textures were used as master for hot embossing. The larger structure with a period between 30 µm and 70 µm and depths up to 8 µm was produced by direct laser writing (DLW), whereas the smaller structure featuring a period of 3 µm at a depth up to 2 µm was fabricated by direct laser interference patterning (DLIP). The textured surfaces of stainless steel were then molded onto PET films at a pressure of 42 MPa and a temperature of 85°C using a hydraulic press. Topographical characterization was performed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Experiments have shown an increased static water contact angle up to 105°. Furthermore, the hierarchically microtextured foils were studied as out-coupling layers in OLEDs, showing a potential increase in device efficiency of up to 57%. The results thus indicate a good suitability of the developed surfaces for use in highly efficient OLEDs with easy-to-clean properties.
KEYWORDS: Thermal modeling, Solar cells, Silicon solar cells, Crystals, Solar energy, Photovoltaics, Finite element methods, Convection, Yield improvement, Energy efficiency
To develop efficient strategies for mitigating the elevated temperature-induced losses and improving the annual energy yield of solar cells and photovoltaic modules, thermal modelling is of utmost importance. In this contribution, we use rigorous Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations to investigate the steady-state spatial temperature distribution in commercial high-efficiency crystalline silicon PV modules, with particular focus aimed towards studying the impact of various influencing parameters. First, we investigate how heat conduction within an encapsulated solar cell operating at maximum power point is influenced by metallization and surface textures. Then, we study how the operating temperature is affected by the optical power density incident on the PV module and to what extent the natural convection, hence the cooling of the device, is influenced by changing the PV module inclination angle from 0° to 30°. Finally, the forced convection in form of wind is introduced. We demonstrate that forced convection has an even greater beneficial impact at higher wind speeds and larger PV module dimensions, since the transformation of laminar to turbulent wind flow that can occur above the surface of the module contributes to additional cooling.
Dense integration of photonic components in photonic integrated circuits presents an important challenge. To reduce the cross talk between the components and thus enable denser integration, sub-wavelength all-dielectric metamaterial claddings have been investigated. Such structures can be realized by patterning subwavelength ridges around the core of the integrated waveguide. In this contribution we present the results of analytical calculations and numerical simulations of optical systems with slab and strip waveguides with all-dielectric metamaterial cladding and investigate the effects on evanescent field in the cladding. We show that a high refractive index contrast between the core and surrounding material is vital for the performance of all-dielectric metamaterial claddings. In particular we include silicon, silicon oxide and silicon nitride materials in our investigation.
Nanostructures play an important role in state-of-the-art photovoltaic devices. Optical and electrical characteristics of the devices can be improved with properly designed and fabricated nanotextures. In this contribution, we highlight examples of possible fabrication of nanotextures by using UV nanoimprinted lithography, their optical characterization by camera based angular resolved spectroscopy and perform computer-assisted design of nanotextures for best optical performance of heterojunction silicon and ultra-thin chalcopyrite solar cells.
We present improvements in light outcoupling for the example of red, bottom-emitting, ITO free OLEDs. As an optimization tool we use experimentally verified coupled modelling approach, where we simulate a complete OLED device, including thin-film coherent stacks as well as thick microtextured incoherent layers (substrate). We calibrate the combined model on a fabricated small sample OLED. The research of lateral limitations and limited integrating sphere opening effects show that small area effects can lead to large deviations in outcoupling efficiency with respect to the large area devices commonly used in lighting applications. On the large area devices, we focus on the optimization of the thinfilm stack cavity in the OLED by tuning the thicknesses of thin layers. We show the importance of including the complete device in the optimization process, including the thin-film stack and the thick substrate with the outcoupling textures. We show that an OLED with an optimized planar cavity and applied external positive shaped dome texture can reach up to 50.5 % light extraction efficiency according to simulations.
Device modelling and characterization are indispensable tools in the design of photovoltaic devices. In the contribution we present two challenging issues related to accurate modelling and efficient characterization of light scattering at nanotextured interfaces or other nanophotonic structures used in solar cell technologies. The model based on finite element method, which is upgraded with the Huygens’ expansion theorem is presented. It enables to calculate the angular distribution function of scattered light in the near and far field. It accounts also for the antireflection effects originating from nanoroughnesses. To characterize scattered light efficiently a camera based angular resolved spectroscopy system is presented. It captures the spatial angular distribution function in broad angular range at one shot.
We studied the optical properties of polymer layers filled with phosphor particles in two aspects. First, we used two different polymer binders with refractive indices n = 1.46 and n = 1.61 (λ = 600 nm) to decrease Δn with the phosphor particles (n = 1.81). Second, we prepared two particle size distributions D50 = 12 μm and D50 = 19 μm. The particles were dispersed in both polymer binders in several volume concentrations and coated onto glass with thicknesses of 150 - 600 μm. We present further a newly developed optical model for simulation and optimization of such luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layers. The model is developed within the ray tracing framework of the existing optical simulator CROWM (Combined Ray Optics / Wave Optics Model), which enables simulation of standalone LDS layers as well as complete solar cells (including thick and thin layers) enhanced by the LDS layers for an improved solar spectrum harvesting. Experimental results and numerical simulations show that the layers of the higher refractive index binder with larger particles result in the highest optical transmittance in the visible light spectrum. Finally we proved that scattering of the phosphor particles in the LDS layers may increase the overall light harvesting in the solar cell. We used numerical simulations to determine optimal layer composition for application in realistic thin-film photovoltaic devices. Surprisingly LDS layers with lower measured optical transmittance are more efficient when applied onto the solar cells due to graded refractive index and efficient light scattering. Therefore, our phosphor-filled LDS layers could possibly complement other light-coupling techniques in photovoltaics.
Efficient transparent light converters have received lately a growing interest from optical device industries (LEDs, PV,
etc.). While organic luminescent dyes were tested in PV light-converting application, such restrictions as small Stokes
shifts, short lifetimes, and relatively high costs must yet be overcome. Alternatively, use of phosphors in transparent
matrix materials would mean a major breakthrough for this technology, as phosphors exhibit long-term stability and are
widely available. For the fabrication of phosphor-filled layers tailored specifically for the desired application, it is of
great importance to gain deep understanding of light propagation through the layers, including the detailed optical
interplay between the phosphor particles and the matrix material. Our measurements show that absorption and
luminescent behavior of the phosphors and especially the scattering of light by the phosphor particles play an important
role. In this contribution we have investigated refractive index difference between transparent binder and phosphors.
Commercially available highly luminescent UV and near-UV absorbing μm-sized powder is chosen for the fabrication of
phosphor-filled layers with varied refractive index of transparent polymer matrix, and well-defined particle size
distributions. Solution-processed thick layers on glass substrates are optically analyzed and compared with simulation
results acquired from CROWM, a combined wave optics/ray optics home-built software. The results demonstrate the
inter-dependence of the layer parameters, prove the importance of careful optimization steps required for fabrication of
efficient light converting layers, and, thus, show a path into the future of this promising approach.
Individual shunts and "weak diodes" can have a significant effect, one much larger than implied by their physical area,
on the performance of laboratory-sized (~ 1cm2) solar cells. For larger areas typical of thin-film modules, the sheet
resistance of the transparent contact minimizes the impact of a single, small-area non-uniformity. If there are significant
numbers of shunts or weak diodes throughout a module, however, its performance may also be reduced. In this case, the
number, the magnitude, the nature, and the distribution of the non-uniformities combine to affect the degree of reduction.
In particular, a concentration of most shunts or weak diodes in a small number of module cells will be less destructive
than if they are distributed among a greater number of cells. In the case of non-uniform illumination, however, module
performance is less degraded if the shadowing is spread relatively uniformly over all or most of the cells.
The potential of three advanced optical designs in tandem micromorph silicon solar cells are analysed by means of optical simulations: enhanced light scattering, intermediate reflector (interlayer) and antireflective coating (ARC) on glass. The effects on quantum efficiency, QE, and short circuit current density, JSC, of the top and bottom cell are investigated. In case of enhanced light scattering, the role of haze parameter and angular distribution function of scattered light is analysed separately. High haze parameter improves light trapping in top and bottom cell. However, the improvement in QE and JSC of the bottom cell is limited at higher haze parameters due to increased absorption in top cell and increased optical losses in realistic textured ZnO/Ag back contact. Broad ADF plays an important role for improving the performances of both, top and bottom cell. The role of refractive index of an interlayer between top and bottom cell is analysed. Significant increases in QE and JSC of the top cell are revealed for small refractive indexes of the interlayer (n < 2.0). At the same time noticeable decrease in the performance of the bottom cell is observed. Optimisation of thickness and refractive index of a single-layer ARC on glass is carried out in order to obtain maximal JSC either in top or in bottom cell. Moderate increases in JSC and QE are obtained for optimised ARC parameters. Among the three optical designs, the greatest potential, considering the improvements in both cells, is revealed for enhanced light scattering.
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