Improving Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency Using Graded-Refractive-Index SiON/ZnO Nanostructures

The fabrication of silicon oxynitride (SiON)/ZnO nanotube (NT) arrays and their application in improving the energy conversion efficiency (η) of crystalline Si-based solar cells (SCs) are reported. The SiON/ZnO NT arrays have a graded-refractive-index that varies from 3.5 (Si) to 1.9~2.0 (Si3N4 and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yung-Chun Tu, Shui-Jinn Wang, Chien-Hung Wu, Kow-Ming Chang, Tseng-Hsing Lin, Chien-Hsiung Hung, Jhen-Siang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/275697
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Summary:The fabrication of silicon oxynitride (SiON)/ZnO nanotube (NT) arrays and their application in improving the energy conversion efficiency (η) of crystalline Si-based solar cells (SCs) are reported. The SiON/ZnO NT arrays have a graded-refractive-index that varies from 3.5 (Si) to 1.9~2.0 (Si3N4 and ZnO) to 1.72~1.75 (SiON) to 1 (air). Experimental results show that the use of 0.4 μm long ZnO NT arrays coated with a 150 nm thick SiON film increases Δη/η by 39.2% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW/cm2) illumination as compared to that of regular SCs with a Si3N4/micropyramid surface. This enhancement can be attributed to SiON/ZnO NT arrays effectively releasing surface reflection and minimizing Fresnel loss.
ISSN:1110-662X
1687-529X