Design and fabrication of photonic crystal thin film photovoltaic cells

Guillaume Gomard (1) , Ounsi El Daif (1) , Emmanuel Drouard (1) , Xianqin Meng (1) , Anne Kaminski (2) , Alain Fave (2) , Mustapha Lemiti (2) , Enric Garcia-Caurel (3) , Pere Roca I Cabarrocas (3) , Christian Seassal (1)

1 INL - Photonique - INL - Nanophotonique
2 INL - PV - INL - Photovoltaïque
3 LPICM - Laboratoire de physique des interfaces et des couches minces [Palaiseau]

We present the integration of an absorbing planar photonic crystal within a thin film photovoltaic cell. The devices are based on a stack including a hydrogenated amorphous silicon P-i-N junction surrounded by TCO layers, with a back metallic contact. Optical simulations exhibit a significant increase of the integrated absorption in the 300-720nm wavelength range. The global electro-optical characteristics of such a new solar cell, and the impact of surface passivation, are also discussed. Carrier generation rate maps calculated by optical simulations are introduced as input data in a commercial electrical simulation software. The fabrication of such a device is finally addressed, with a specific focus on the use of low cost nanopatterning processes compatible with large areas.

Mots clés: Photovoltaic solar cell; Thin film solar cell; Photonic crystal; Hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Domaines: Optique / photonique

Guillaume Gomard, Ounsi El Daif, Emmanuel Drouard, Xianqin Meng, Anne Kaminski, et al.. Design and fabrication of photonic crystal thin film photovoltaic cells. Photonics for solar energy systems III : ( 13-15 April 2010, Brussels, Belgium ) Photonics for solar energy systems No3, Bruxelles BELGIQUE (2010) SPIE Photonics Europe No03, Bruxelles BELGIQUE (2010), Apr 2010, Brussels, Belgium. pp./, ⟨10.1117/12.854383⟩. ⟨hal-00666214⟩