KEYWORDS: Silicon, Solar cells, Antireflective coatings, Thin films, Refractive index, Dielectrics, Gallium arsenide, Near field scanning optical microscopy, Photovoltaics, Near field optics
We demonstrate optical and electrical property enhancement of solar cells using a variety of dielectric nano-resonator array coatings. First, we study close-packed silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano-resonator arrays on top of silicon (Si) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells. From macroscale measurements and calculations, we find that absorptivity of solar cells can be improved by 20 % due to the resonant couplings of excited whispering gallery modes and the thin-film antireflection effect. Next, we image photocurrent enhancement at the nanoscale via near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM). Strong local photocurrent enhancement is observed over each nano-resonator at wavelengths corresponding to the whispering gallery mode excitation. Finally, for better optical coupling to solar cells, we explore hybrid nano-resonator arrays combining multiple materials such as silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and titanium dioxide. Due to higher number of photonic modes within such hybrid coatings, absorptivity is enhanced by more than 30 % in a Si solar cell.
KEYWORDS: Perovskite, Solar cells, Near field scanning optical microscopy, Lead, Microscopy, Atomic force microscopy, Photovoltaics, Scanning electron microscopy, Crystals, Silver
Photocurrent generation of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) hybrid perovskite solar cells is observed at the nanoscale using near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM). We examine how the spatial map of photocurrent at individual grains or grain boundaries is affected either by sample post-annealing temperature or by extended light illumination. For NSPM measurements, we use a tapered fiber with an output opening of 200 nm in the Cr/Au cladded metal coating attached to a tuning fork-based atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe. Increased photocurrent is observed at grain boundaries of perovskite solar cells annealed at moderate temperature (100 °C); however, the opposite spatial pattern (i.e., increased photocurrent generation at grain interiors) is observed in samples annealed at higher temperature (130 °C). Combining NSPM results with other macro-/microscale characterization techniques including electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and other electrical property measurements, we suggest that such spatial patterns are caused by material inhomogeneity, dynamics of lead iodide segregation, and defect passivation. Finally, we discuss the degradation mechanism of perovskite solar cells under extended light illumination, which is related to further segregation of lead iodide.
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