3D optical simulation formalism OPTOS for textured silicon solar cells

Tucher N, Eisenlohr J, Kiefel P, Hoehn O, Hauser H, Peters M, Mueller C, Goldschmidt JC, Blaesi B (2015)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Optics Express Optical Society of America

Book Volume: 23

Pages Range: A1720-A1734

Journal Issue: 24

DOI: 10.1364/OE.23.0A1720

Abstract

In this paper we introduce the three-dimensional formulation of the OPTOS formalism, a matrix-based method that allows for the efficient simulation of non-coherent light propagation and absorption in thick textured sheets. As application examples, we calculate the absorptance of solar cells featuring textures on front and rear side with different feature sizes operating in different optical regimes. A discretization of polar and azimuth angle enables a three-dimensional description of systems with arbitrary surface textures. We present redistribution matrices for 3D surface textures, including pyramidal textures, binary crossed gratings and a Lambertian scatterer. The results of the OPTOS simulations for silicon sheets with different combinations of these surfaces are in accordance with both optical measurements and results based on established simulation methods like ray tracing. Using OPTOS, we show that the integration of a diffractive grating at the rear side of a silicon solar cell featuring a pyramidal front side results in absorption close to the Yablonovitch Limit enhancing the photocurrent density by 0.6 mA/cm2 for a 200 μm thick cell.

Involved external institutions

Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (ISE) / Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems DE Germany (DE) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) US United States (USA) (US) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Tucher, N., Eisenlohr, J., Kiefel, P., Hoehn, O., Hauser, H., Peters, M.,... Blaesi, B. (2015). 3D optical simulation formalism OPTOS for textured silicon solar cells. Optics Express, 23(24), A1720-A1734. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.0A1720

MLA:

Tucher, Nico, et al. "3D optical simulation formalism OPTOS for textured silicon solar cells." Optics Express 23.24 (2015): A1720-A1734.

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