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Efficiently Harvesting Sun Light for Silicon Solar Cells through Advanced Optical Couplers and A Radial p-n Junction Structure

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  • Hsin-Cheng Lee

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan)

  • Shich-Chuan Wu

    (National Nano Device Laboratories, Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan)

  • Tien-Chung Yang

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan)

  • Ta-Jen Yen

    (Department of Material Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchiu, Taiwan
    National Nano Device Laboratories, Science-Based Industrial Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan)

Abstract

Silicon-based solar cells (SCs) promise to be an alternative energy source mainly due to: (1) a high efficiency-to-cost ratio, (2) the absence of environmental-degradation issues, and (3) great reliability. Transition from wafer-based to thin-film SC significantly reduces the cost of SCs, including the cost from the material itself and the fabrication process. However, as the thickness of the absorption (or the active) layer decreases, the energy-conversion efficiency drops dramatically. As a consequence, we discuss here three techniques to increase the efficiency of silicon-based SCs: (1) photonic crystal (PC) optical couplers and (2) plasmonic optical couplers to increase efficiency of light absorption in the SCs, and (3) a radial p-n junction structure, decomposing light absorption and diffusion path into two orthogonal directions. The detailed mechanisms and recent research progress regarding these techniques are discussed in this review article.

Suggested Citation

  • Hsin-Cheng Lee & Shich-Chuan Wu & Tien-Chung Yang & Ta-Jen Yen, 2010. "Efficiently Harvesting Sun Light for Silicon Solar Cells through Advanced Optical Couplers and A Radial p-n Junction Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:3:y:2010:i:4:p:784-802:d:8014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bozhi Tian & Xiaolin Zheng & Thomas J. Kempa & Ying Fang & Nanfang Yu & Guihua Yu & Jinlin Huang & Charles M. Lieber, 2007. "Coaxial silicon nanowires as solar cells and nanoelectronic power sources," Nature, Nature, vol. 449(7164), pages 885-889, October.
    2. van Sark, W.G.J.H.M. & Brandsen, G.W. & Fleuster, M. & Hekkert, M.P., 2007. "Analysis of the silicon market: Will thin films profit?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 3121-3125, June.
    3. William L. Barnes & Alain Dereux & Thomas W. Ebbesen, 2003. "Surface plasmon subwavelength optics," Nature, Nature, vol. 424(6950), pages 824-830, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Aiello & Salvatore Alfonzetti & Santi Agatino Rizzo & Nunzio Salerno, 2017. "Multi-Objective Optimization of Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells with Metallic and Dielectric Nanoparticles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Hsin-Jung Huang & Sheng-Chih Shen & Heiu-Jou Shaw, 2012. "Design and Fabrication of a Novel Hybrid-Structure Heat Pipe for a Concentrator Photovoltaic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(11), pages 1-10, October.
    3. Ali, Nouran M. & Rafat, Nadia H., 2017. "Modeling and simulation of nanorods photovoltaic solar cells: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 212-220.

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