Step towards Production of Low-Cost, Highly Efficient Solar Cells

Iranian researchers from Shiraz University used special nanostructures to produce solar cells to increase the efficiency of the devices.

Constant surface is the major problem in increasing the efficiency of solar cells. The problem has been solved in this research by creating a nanometric film on the surface and trapping of more optical photons.

In this research, nanometric films were created on micrometric pyramidal layers by using catalytic expulsion characteristics of silver nanoparticles in comparison with silicon, which minimizes the light reflection.

The application of electrical method is another approach in increasing the efficiency of samples. Taking into consideration the crystalline malfunctions created on the surface of solar cells due to the nanometric expulsion, surface deactivation process has been carried out by using hydrogen plasma.

The combination of optical and electrical methods result in the production of single crystalline silicon based solar cells with an efficiency higher than 18%. The product has 23% efficiency higher in optical current (lph) and 4% in open circuit voltage (Voc) in comparison with samples without using nanostructures.

Results of the research have been published in Optik – International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, vol. 126, issue 24, 2015, pp. 5762-5766.

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