Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle

Emily D Kosten; Jackson H Atwater; James Parsons; Albert Polman; Harry A Atwater

doi:10.1038/lsa.2013.1

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Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle

Original Articles

- Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle
- Light: Science & Applications Vol. 2, Issue 1-2, (2013)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Thomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
  2.Center for Nanophotonics, FOM-Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Author bio：
  
  Professor HA Atwater, Thomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, MC 128–95, 1200 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125, USA E-mail: haa@caltech.edu
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/lsa.2013.1
  CLC：
- Published：2013-06，
  
  Published Online：04 January 2013，
  
  Received：25 April 2012，
  
  Revised：17 September 2012，
  
  Accepted：24 September 2012
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Kosten, E. D. et al. Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle. Light: Science & Applications, 2, e45 (2013).
DOI：

Kosten, E. D. et al. Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle. Light: Science & Applications, 2, e45 (2013). DOI： 10.1038/lsa.2013.1.

摘要

Abstract

In a conventional flat plate solar cell under direct sunlight

light is received from the solar disk

but is re-emitted isotropically. This isotropic emission corresponds to a significant entropy increase in the solar cell

with a corresponding drop in efficiency. Here

using a detailed balance model

we show that limiting the emission angle of a high-quality GaAs solar cell is a feasible route to achieving power conversion efficiencies above 38% with a single junction. The highest efficiencies are predicted for a thin

light trapping cell with an ideal back reflector

though the scheme is robust to a non-ideal back reflector. Comparison with a conventional planar cell geometry illustrates that limiting emission angle in a light trapping geometry not only allows for much thinner cells

but also for significantly higher overall efficiencies with an excellent rear reflector. Finally

we present ray-tracing and detailed balance analysis of two angular coupler designs

show that significant efficiency improvements are possible with these couplers

and demonstrate initial fabrication of one coupler design.

关键词

Keywords

detailed balanceGaAs solar celllight trappingphotovoltaicstwo photon lithography

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