Toward the Lambertian limit of light trapping in thin nanostructured silicon solar cells

Nano Lett. 2010 Nov 10;10(11):4692-6. doi: 10.1021/nl1029804.

Abstract

We examine light trapping in thin silicon nanostructures for solar cell applications. Using group theory, we design surface nanostructures with an absorptance exceeding the Lambertian limit over a broad band at normal incidence. Further, we demonstrate that the absorptance of nanorod arrays closely follows the Lambertian limit for isotropic incident radiation. These effects correspond to a reduction in silicon mass by 2 orders of magnitude, pointing to the promising future of thin crystalline silicon solar cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Solar Energy*

Substances

  • Silicon