Edge-illuminated ultrathin crystalline silicon solar cell
Edge-illuminated ultrathin crystalline silicon solar cell
This paper proposes a radically new solution to enhance the photoexcitation of silicon by directing the illumination onto the edge of the solar cell by means of fluorescence energy collection. This approach makes it possible to consider photovoltaic devices with efficiencies comparable to crystalline silicon thickness of only several micrometers. We will present the first theoretical results and discuss such structures where the path length of light is increased substantially, leading to efficient capture of the near bandgap photon flux. We shall show that using a realistic model for the fluorescent collector, overall device efficiency (collector + solar cell) of 13% maybe be achievable in the near future with a 1?m thick silicon structure. Efficiencies in excess of 17% can be reached with the application of photonics or using thicker silicon layers. We demonstrate that edge illuminated ultrathin silicon solar cells using fluorescent collectors can produce conversion efficiencies close to conventional c-Si solar cell but with greatly reduced material requirements
3-936338-26-4
Markvart, T.
f21e82ec-4e3b-4485-9f27-ffc0102fdf1c
Danos, L.
c831e137-37b9-42cc-ab8c-49de31038922
2010
Markvart, T.
f21e82ec-4e3b-4485-9f27-ffc0102fdf1c
Danos, L.
c831e137-37b9-42cc-ab8c-49de31038922
Markvart, T. and Danos, L.
(2010)
Edge-illuminated ultrathin crystalline silicon solar cell.
In Proceedings on 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
WIP Renewable Energies.
3 pp
.
(doi:10.4229/25thEUPVSEC2010-2DV.1.89).
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Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
This paper proposes a radically new solution to enhance the photoexcitation of silicon by directing the illumination onto the edge of the solar cell by means of fluorescence energy collection. This approach makes it possible to consider photovoltaic devices with efficiencies comparable to crystalline silicon thickness of only several micrometers. We will present the first theoretical results and discuss such structures where the path length of light is increased substantially, leading to efficient capture of the near bandgap photon flux. We shall show that using a realistic model for the fluorescent collector, overall device efficiency (collector + solar cell) of 13% maybe be achievable in the near future with a 1?m thick silicon structure. Efficiencies in excess of 17% can be reached with the application of photonics or using thicker silicon layers. We demonstrate that edge illuminated ultrathin silicon solar cells using fluorescent collectors can produce conversion efficiencies close to conventional c-Si solar cell but with greatly reduced material requirements
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Published date: 2010
Venue - Dates:
Proceedings in 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Valencia, Spain, 2010-09-06 - 2010-09-10
Organisations:
Engineering Science Unit
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Local EPrints ID: 334202
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/334202
ISBN: 3-936338-26-4
PURE UUID: b78c3278-18f1-4997-99fb-dca4f259a05e
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Date deposited: 08 Mar 2012 13:48
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 10:34
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Author:
L. Danos
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