Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ Solar Cells Integrated with Subwavelength Structured Cover Glass Fabricated by One-Step Self-Masked...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Optics

Background:

• Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells are a promising photovoltaic technology.
• Light reflection from cover glass can reduce the efficiency of solar cells.
• Existing anti-reflective coatings may have limitations in broadband performance or durability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer an anti-reflective cover glass for CIGS thin film solar cells.
• To improve light transmittance and enhance solar cell performance.
• To investigate the efficacy of subwavelength structures (SWSs) for anti-reflection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of subwavelength structures (SWSs) on cover glass using one-step self-masked etching.
• Characterization of the SWSs for their structural properties (e.g., high aspect ratio whiskers).
• Measurement of optical transmittance across a broad wavelength range (UV to near-infrared).

Main Results:

• The SWS-integrated glass demonstrated excellent anti-reflective properties across UV to near-infrared wavelengths.
• Average transmittance increased from 92.4% for flat glass to 95.2% for SWS-integrated glass.
• CIGS solar cells with the SWS cover glass showed a 4.38% increase in short-circuit current and a 6% increase in efficiency.

Conclusions:

• One-step self-masked etching is an effective method for creating high-aspect-ratio SWSs for anti-reflective applications.
• The developed anti-reflective cover glass significantly enhances the performance of CIGS thin film solar cells.
• SWS technology offers a viable pathway to boost the efficiency of photovoltaic devices.