Transparent double-period electrode with effective light management for thin film solar cells

Abstract

Aiming to significantly enhance solar cell efficiency through light management, we designed and fabricated transparent electrodes with a double-period structure. After demonstrating a significant increase of quantum efficiency in short wavelengths with a small-period self-textured ZnO : B, and in long wavelengths with large-period texture-etched ZnO : Al, respectively, we made the double-period transparent solar cell electrode by integrating self-textured ZnO : B and texture-etched ZnO : Al on μc-Si : H solar cells, using conventional physical and chemical vapor deposition techniques. Our investigation indicates that the double-period electrode can play an important role towards improving light absorption and trapping, thus effectively increasing the efficiency and reducing the cost of electricity from the solar cells.