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Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-film Solar cells with Plasmonic-enhanced Light-trapping
Published on: July 2, 2012
High efficiency hybrid silicon nanopillar-polymer solar cells
Pushpa Raj Pudasaini1, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Manisha Sharma
1Department of Physics and Astronomy and ‡Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio , One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 17, 2013
Summary
We developed efficient inorganic/organic hybrid solar cells using silicon nanopillars (SiNPs) and PEDOT:PSS. Adding an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) passivation layer boosted power conversion efficiency to 10.56%.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Inorganic/organic hybrid solar cells offer a low-cost photovoltaic alternative.
- Schottky junctions can be formed using low-temperature processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate efficient hybrid solar cells using silicon nanopillars (SiNPs) and PEDOT:PSS.
- To explore the impact of SiNP height and Al2O3 passivation on device performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of SiNP arrays using metal-assisted electroless chemical etching.
- Spin coating of PEDOT:PSS on SiNP arrays.
- Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3 as a passivation layer.
Main Results:
- Optimized SiNP height of 400 nm yielded a 9.65% power conversion efficiency (PCE).
- Incorporation of an ultrathin ALD Al2O3 passivation layer increased PCE to 10.56%.
- The Al2O3 layer enhanced device performance by acting as a recombination barrier.
Conclusions:
- The developed SiNP/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cells demonstrate high efficiency.
- ALD-based Al2O3 passivation is effective for improving PCE in these devices.
- This technology shows promise for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy conversion.
