Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures

This study investigates the application of dielectric composite nanostructures (DCNs) to enhance both antireflection and absorption properties in thin film GaAs solar cells, which are crucial for reducing production costs and improving energy conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices. Building u...

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Main Authors: Yanyan Wang, Jiali Chen, Ruiying Zhang, Min Qian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024156964
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author Yanyan Wang
Jiali Chen
Ruiying Zhang
Min Qian
author_facet Yanyan Wang
Jiali Chen
Ruiying Zhang
Min Qian
author_sort Yanyan Wang
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the application of dielectric composite nanostructures (DCNs) to enhance both antireflection and absorption properties in thin film GaAs solar cells, which are crucial for reducing production costs and improving energy conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices. Building upon previous experimental validations, this work systematically explores the underlying theoretical mechanisms using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to analyze the light interaction with the proposed DCNs. The results show that the combination of Mie resonance, Fabry–Perot resonance, and guided resonance, induced by the surface structuring of the DCNs, significantly enhances light absorption in the active layer, particularly at longer wavelengths. For solar cells featuring a 500-nm-thick absorber layer, SARL-decorated solar cells demonstrated an average reflectivity of 12.18 %, whereas those incorporating DCNs exhibited a significantly reduced average reflectivity of 4.52 %. These findings indicate that DCNs structures are highly effective in enhancing the performance of thin and ultra-thin GaAs solar cells by minimizing surface reflection and increasing photon utilization, offering a promising solution for high efficiency, cost effective photovoltaic devices.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2405-8440
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Heliyon
spelling doaj-art-0d02ff5f8f4e4ae48721752934957a6b2024-12-13T10:58:24ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-12-011023e39665Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructuresYanyan Wang0Jiali Chen1Ruiying Zhang2Min Qian3School of Optical and Electronic Information, Suzhou City University Suzhou, China; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Biophotonics, Suzhou, China; Division of Nanodevices and Related Materials Suzhou Institute of Nanotech and Nanobionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou, ChinaSchool of Optical and Electronic Information, Suzhou City University Suzhou, China; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Biophotonics, Suzhou, ChinaDivision of Nanodevices and Related Materials Suzhou Institute of Nanotech and Nanobionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou, ChinaSchool of Optical and Electronic Information, Suzhou City University Suzhou, China; Suzhou Key Laboratory of Biophotonics, Suzhou, China; Corresponding author. School of Optical and Electronic Information, Suzhou City University Suzhou, China.This study investigates the application of dielectric composite nanostructures (DCNs) to enhance both antireflection and absorption properties in thin film GaAs solar cells, which are crucial for reducing production costs and improving energy conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices. Building upon previous experimental validations, this work systematically explores the underlying theoretical mechanisms using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to analyze the light interaction with the proposed DCNs. The results show that the combination of Mie resonance, Fabry–Perot resonance, and guided resonance, induced by the surface structuring of the DCNs, significantly enhances light absorption in the active layer, particularly at longer wavelengths. For solar cells featuring a 500-nm-thick absorber layer, SARL-decorated solar cells demonstrated an average reflectivity of 12.18 %, whereas those incorporating DCNs exhibited a significantly reduced average reflectivity of 4.52 %. These findings indicate that DCNs structures are highly effective in enhancing the performance of thin and ultra-thin GaAs solar cells by minimizing surface reflection and increasing photon utilization, offering a promising solution for high efficiency, cost effective photovoltaic devices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024156964Dielectric composite nanostructuresSurface antireflectionAbsorption enhancementFDTDGaAs solar cells
spellingShingle Yanyan Wang
Jiali Chen
Ruiying Zhang
Min Qian
Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
Heliyon
Dielectric composite nanostructures
Surface antireflection
Absorption enhancement
FDTD
GaAs solar cells
title Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
title_full Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
title_fullStr Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
title_short Enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film GaAs solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
title_sort enhanced antireflection and absorption in thin film gaas solar cells using dielectric composite nanostructures
topic Dielectric composite nanostructures
Surface antireflection
Absorption enhancement
FDTD
GaAs solar cells
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024156964
work_keys_str_mv AT yanyanwang enhancedantireflectionandabsorptioninthinfilmgaassolarcellsusingdielectriccompositenanostructures
AT jialichen enhancedantireflectionandabsorptioninthinfilmgaassolarcellsusingdielectriccompositenanostructures
AT ruiyingzhang enhancedantireflectionandabsorptioninthinfilmgaassolarcellsusingdielectriccompositenanostructures
AT minqian enhancedantireflectionandabsorptioninthinfilmgaassolarcellsusingdielectriccompositenanostructures