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Title: Microfiber Optic Arrays as Top Coatings for Front-Contact Solar Cells toward Mitigation of Shading Loss
Microfiber optic array structures are fabricated and employed as an optical structure overlaying a front-contact silicon solar cell. The arrays are synthesized through light-induced self-writing in a photo-crosslinking acrylate resin, which produces periodically spaced, high-aspect-ratio, and vertically aligned tapered microfibers deposited on a transparent substrate. The structure is then positioned over and sealed onto the solar cell surface. Their fiber optic properties enable collection of non-normal incident light, allowing the structure to mitigate shading loss through the redirection of incident light away from contacts and toward the solar cell. Angle-averaged external quantum efficiency increases nominally by 1.61%, resulting in increases in short-circuit current density up to 1.13 mA/cm2. This work demonstrates a new approach to enhance light collection and conversion using a scalable, straightforward, light-based additive manufacturing process.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1903592 1751621
PAR ID:
10158860
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ACS applied materials interfaces
Volume:
11
Issue:
50
ISSN:
1944-8244
Page Range / eLocation ID:
47422–47427
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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