Upper limits to absorption enhancement in thick solar cells using diffraction gratings

Mellor Null, Alexander Virgil, Tobías Galicia, Ignacio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6154-5870, Martí Vega, Antonio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8841-7091, Mendes, Manuel J. and Luque López, Antonio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8357-6413 (2011). Upper limits to absorption enhancement in thick solar cells using diffraction gratings. "Progress in photovoltaics: research and applications", v. 19 (n. 6); pp. 676-687. ISSN 1099-159X. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.1086.

Description

Title: Upper limits to absorption enhancement in thick solar cells using diffraction gratings
Author/s:
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Date: September 2011
ISSN: 1099-159X
Volume: 19
Subjects:
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación (UPM)
Department: Electrónica Física
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

The application of diffraction gratings to solar cells is a promising approach to superseding the light trapping limits of conventional Lambertian structures. In this paper a mathematical formalism is derived for calculating the absorption that can be expected in a solar cell equipped with a diffraction grating, which can be applied to any lattice geometry and grating profile. Furthermore, the formalism is used to calculate the upper limit of total absorption that can theoretically be achieved using a diffraction grating. The derived formalism and limits are valid when the solar cell thickness is greater than the coherence length of the illuminating solar spectrum. Comparison is made to the upper limit achievable using an angularly selective Rugate filter, which is also calculated. Both limits are found to be considerably higher than the Lambertian limit within the range of sunlight concentration factors practically employed in photovoltaic systems (1–1000×). The upper limit of absorption using the diffraction grating is shown to be equal to the thermodynamic limit for all absorbances and concentration factors. The limit for the Rugate filter is generally lower, but tends to the thermodynamic limit for lower cell absorbances

Funding Projects

Type
Code
Acronym
Leader
Title
FP7
211640
IBPOWER
Unspecified
Intermediate Band Materials and Solar Cells for Photovoltaics with High Efficiency and Reduced Cost

More information

Item ID: 10415
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/10415/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:10415
DOI: 10.1002/pip.1086
Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pip.108...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 29 Feb 2012 09:20
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2014 12:02
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