Optimization of charge-carrier generation in amorphous-silicon thin-film tandem solar cell backed by two-dimensional metallic surface-relief grating

Benjamin J. Civiletti; Tom H. Anderson; Faiz Ahmad; Peter B. Monk; Akhlesh Lakhtakia

doi:10.1117/12.2274077

25 August 2017 Optimization of charge-carrier generation in amorphous-silicon thin-film tandem solar cell backed by two-dimensional metallic surface-relief grating

Benjamin J. Civiletti, Tom H. Anderson, Faiz Ahmad, Peter B. Monk, Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10368, Next Generation Technologies for Solar Energy Conversion VIII; 1036809 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274077
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2017, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The rigorous coupled-wave approach was implemented in a three-dimensional setting to calculate the chargecarrier-generation rate in a thin-film solar cell with multiple amorphous-silicon p-i-n junctions. The solar cell comprised a front antireflection window; three electrically isolated p-i-n junctions in tandem; and a periodically corrugated silver back-reflector with hillock-shaped corrugations arranged on a hexagonal lattice. The differential evolution algorithm (DEA) was used to maximize the charge-carrier-generation rate over a set of selected optical and electrical parameters. This optimization exercise minimized the bandgap of the topmost i–layer but all other parameters turned out to be uninfluential. More importantly, the exercise led to a configuration that would very likely render the solar cell inefficient. Therefore, another optimization exercise was conducted to maximize power density. The resulting configuration was optimal over all parameters.

Citation Download Citation

Benjamin J. Civiletti, Tom H. Anderson, Faiz Ahmad, Peter B. Monk, and Akhlesh Lakhtakia "Optimization of charge-carrier generation in amorphous-silicon thin-film tandem solar cell backed by two-dimensional metallic surface-relief grating", Proc. SPIE 10368, Next Generation Technologies for Solar Energy Conversion VIII, 1036809 (25 August 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274077

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