Rougher user interfaces may enhance performance of next-generation solar cells

• In simulations as well as experiments, researchers demonstrate that introducing small nanoscale texturing on the surfaces of products in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells can dramatically increase efficiency by decreasing the quantity of light energy that is lost as a result of representation.

A brand-new nanotextured layout can achieve a power conversion efficiency potential above 29%, which simulations suggest could be additionally improved with better manufacture methods and also additional texturing.

Philipp Tockhorn from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will present the work at the virtual OSA Advanced Photonics Congress to be held 26-30 July. Tockhorn's talk is set up for 29 July.

" We provide nanotextured perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells that get on the same level with the best cells provided in this very dynamic area," stated Tockhorn. Our findings may contribute to the more advancement of highly effective perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells and have the prospective to additional lower the expense of solar electrical power."

Perovskites are products with a crystal structure similar to that of the naturally-occurring mineral perovskite. These semiconducting products transform sunlight to energy really efficiently and have been an essential emphasis for the advancement of next-generation solar energy technologies. Today's photovoltaic panels are made mainly from silicon.

For the new work, Tockhorn, Johannes Sutter and also colleagues from the teams of Prof. Becker and also Prof. Albrecht at HZB examined just how introducing nanotexturing at different interfaces impacts the performance of tandem solar cells made from a perovskite solar cell atop a silicon solar cell. They first utilized a computer system simulation to determine the electric existing in the perovskite and silicon subcells (the photocurrent density) when the perovskite layer was completely flat, nanotextured (rough) only under where it met the silicon layer, or rough on both leading and lower. The substitute bumps had to do with 300 nm high and 750 nm apart. While the prejudiced nanotextured design revealed only mild performance improvement over the flat style in the simulation, the fully distinctive architecture was calculated to take in considerably more light, enhancing the photocurrent thickness by 0.7 mA/cm2 per subcell.

To even more check out how nanotexturing impacts solar cell efficiency, the researchers after that produced various perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell designs: one with a completely flat perovskite layer and also one with a perovskite layer that is flat on top and bumpy on the bottom at the user interface to the silicon solar cell. They figured out that the prejudiced nanotexturing already raised the light absorbed and existing produced in the silicon absorber layer by 0.2-0.3 mA/cm ².

" Remarkably, the nanotextures not only boost the light absorption however additionally bring about a minor improvement of the tandem solar cell's electronic top quality in contrast to the planar reference in conjunction to much better film handling conditions, Tockhorn stated."

The searchings for recommend an encouraging method for further improvements, according to the HZB scientists. Based on their simulation results, the researchers forecast that a solar cell where the perovskite layer is nanotextured on both top and base would likely additionally enhance performance and also get to power conversion performance exceeding 30%.

"An additional advancement of this double-sided textured strategy is existing and also possible but will call for enhancements in the fabrication process to add nanotexturing to the top of the perovskite layer," Tockhorn claimed.