Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies

Rebecca Saive

doi:10.1002/pip.3440

Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies

Rebecca Saive^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

86 Citations (Scopus)

268 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Thin, flexible, and efficient silicon solar cells would revolutionize the photovoltaic market and open up new opportunities for PV integration. However, as an indirect semiconductor, silicon exhibits weak absorption for infrared photons and the efficient absorption of the full above bandgap solar spectrum requires careful photon management. This review paper provides an overview on the fundamental physics of light trapping and explains known theoretical limits. Technologies that have been developed to improve light trapping will be discussed, and limitations will be addressed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1125-1137
Number of pages	13
Journal	Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications
Volume	29
Issue number	10
Early online date	7 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3440
Publication status	Published - Oct 2021

Keywords

UT-Hybrid-D
light management
light trapping
photonics
physics
silicon photovoltaics
solar cells
solar energy
absorption

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1002/pip.3440Licence: CC BY

Saive-2021-Light-trapping-in-thin-silicon-solaFinal published version, 2.3 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{462ae1b979ce4a919c17752ce955d2f3,

title = "Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies",

abstract = "Thin, flexible, and efficient silicon solar cells would revolutionize the photovoltaic market and open up new opportunities for PV integration. However, as an indirect semiconductor, silicon exhibits weak absorption for infrared photons and the efficient absorption of the full above bandgap solar spectrum requires careful photon management. This review paper provides an overview on the fundamental physics of light trapping and explains known theoretical limits. Technologies that have been developed to improve light trapping will be discussed, and limitations will be addressed.",

keywords = "UT-Hybrid-D, light management, light trapping, photonics, physics, silicon photovoltaics, solar cells, solar energy, absorption",

author = "Rebecca Saive",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1002/pip.3440",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

pages = "1125--1137",

journal = "Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications",

issn = "1062-7995",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells

T2 - A review on fundamentals and technologies

AU - Saive, Rebecca

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - Thin, flexible, and efficient silicon solar cells would revolutionize the photovoltaic market and open up new opportunities for PV integration. However, as an indirect semiconductor, silicon exhibits weak absorption for infrared photons and the efficient absorption of the full above bandgap solar spectrum requires careful photon management. This review paper provides an overview on the fundamental physics of light trapping and explains known theoretical limits. Technologies that have been developed to improve light trapping will be discussed, and limitations will be addressed.

AB - Thin, flexible, and efficient silicon solar cells would revolutionize the photovoltaic market and open up new opportunities for PV integration. However, as an indirect semiconductor, silicon exhibits weak absorption for infrared photons and the efficient absorption of the full above bandgap solar spectrum requires careful photon management. This review paper provides an overview on the fundamental physics of light trapping and explains known theoretical limits. Technologies that have been developed to improve light trapping will be discussed, and limitations will be addressed.

KW - UT-Hybrid-D

KW - light management

KW - light trapping

KW - photonics

KW - physics

KW - silicon photovoltaics

KW - solar cells

KW - solar energy

KW - absorption

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107384090&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/pip.3440

DO - 10.1002/pip.3440

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85107384090

SN - 1062-7995

VL - 29

SP - 1125

EP - 1137

JO - Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

JF - Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

IS - 10

ER -

Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Data supporting the publication: Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: a review on fundamentals and technologies

Cite this

Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: A review on fundamentals and technologies

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Datasets

Data supporting the publication: Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells: a review on fundamentals and technologies

Cite this