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METAL BLACKS AS SCATTERING CENTERS TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS
- Date Issued:
- 2011
- Abstract/Description:
- Metal nano particles are investigated as scattering centers on front surface of thin-film solar cells to improve efficiency. The principle is that scattering, which is enhanced near the plasmon resonance frequency of the particle and depends on particle size, increases the effective optical path length of incident light, leading to more light absorption in active layer of thin film solar cell. The particular types of particles investigated here are known as "metal-black", well known as an IR absorber for bolometric infrared detectors. Gold-black was deposited on commercial thin-film solar cells using a thermal evaporator in a nitrogen ambient at pressures of ~1 Torr. We suggest that the broad range of length scales for gold black particles, as quantified by scanning electron microscopy, gives rise to efficient scattering over a broad range of wavelengths across the solar spectrum. The solar cell efficiency was determined both as a function of wavelength and for a solar spectrum produced by a Xe lamp and appropriate filters. Up to 20% increase in short-circuit photocurrent, and a 7% increase in efficiency at the maximum power point, were observed.
Title: | METAL BLACKS AS SCATTERING CENTERS TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THIN FILM SOLAR CELLS. |
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Name(s): |
Panjwani, Deep, Author Peale, Robert, Committee Chair University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Date Issued: | 2011 | |
Publisher: | University of Central Florida | |
Language(s): | English | |
Abstract/Description: | Metal nano particles are investigated as scattering centers on front surface of thin-film solar cells to improve efficiency. The principle is that scattering, which is enhanced near the plasmon resonance frequency of the particle and depends on particle size, increases the effective optical path length of incident light, leading to more light absorption in active layer of thin film solar cell. The particular types of particles investigated here are known as "metal-black", well known as an IR absorber for bolometric infrared detectors. Gold-black was deposited on commercial thin-film solar cells using a thermal evaporator in a nitrogen ambient at pressures of ~1 Torr. We suggest that the broad range of length scales for gold black particles, as quantified by scanning electron microscopy, gives rise to efficient scattering over a broad range of wavelengths across the solar spectrum. The solar cell efficiency was determined both as a function of wavelength and for a solar spectrum produced by a Xe lamp and appropriate filters. Up to 20% increase in short-circuit photocurrent, and a 7% increase in efficiency at the maximum power point, were observed. | |
Identifier: | CFE0004047 (IID), ucf:49153 (fedora) | |
Note(s): |
2011-08-01 M.S. Sciences, Department of Physics Masters This record was generated from author submitted information. |
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Subject(s): | thin film solar cell plasmon gold black nano particles | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004047 | |
Restrictions on Access: | public | |
Host Institution: | UCF |