Abstract
Mie resonator arrays formed by embossing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) from solution are investigated as optical coatings for anti-reflection applications. Compacted nanoparticle assemblies offer unique possibilities to tailor the effective refractive index (RI). Here, we demonstrate a simple table-top, low pressure, and low temperature method to fabricate structured optical coatings. TiO2 nanostructures in the form of nanodisks support Mie resonances in the visible wavelength spectrum and exhibit strong forward scattering into the high index substrates, making them suitable as broadband anti-reflection coatings for solar cells. TiO2 NP-based nanodisk arrays are designed, fabricated, and characterized regarding their anti-reflection properties on Si, GaAs, and InP substrates and solar cells. Detailed finite-difference time-domain simulations are performed to optimize the TiO2 NP-based Mie resonator arrays for the broadband anti-reflection as well as to explain the measured reflectance spectra. The solar-weighted reflectance is used as a figure of merit (FoM). TiO2 nanodisk arrays on Si show a FoM of ~ 7% in the 400–1,100 nm wavelength spectrum; similar values are obtained for GaAs and InP substrates. TiO2 nanodisk arrays embossed directly on prefabricated planar single-junction Si, GaAs, and InP solar cells result in an appreciable increase (~ 1.3 times) in the short-circuit current densities.
Highlights
Mie resonator arrays formed by embossing titanium dioxide ( TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) from solution are investigated as optical coatings for anti-reflection applications
As a proof of principle, optical and electrical characterization of Si, GaAs, and InP solar cells embossed with the TiO2 NP-based optical coatings is included; where all three types of solar cells show an appreciable increase of the short-circuit current density ( Jsc)
This data indicates that an even higher solar-weighted absorbance (~ 85%) can be obtained within the 10 μm top portion of the Si substrate/solar cell due to better anti-reflection and scattering properties. These results indicate that adding TiO2 NP-based nanodisk array structures provide broadband anti-reflection, while avoiding direct structuring of the solar cell material
Summary
Mie resonator arrays formed by embossing titanium dioxide ( TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) from solution are investigated as optical coatings for anti-reflection applications. TiO2 nanostructures in the form of nanodisks support Mie resonances in the visible wavelength spectrum and exhibit strong forward scattering into the high index substrates, making them suitable as broadband anti-reflection coatings for solar cells. TiO2 NP-based nanodisk arrays are designed, fabricated, and characterized regarding their anti-reflection properties on Si, GaAs, and InP substrates and solar cells. For broadband wide-angle anti-reflection applications, multilayer ARCs show a high sensitivity for their anti-reflection properties with respect to layer thickness variations.[45] Nanostructured (e.g., Mie resonators) ARCs have the advantage of being less sensitive with regard to the angle of incidence of the incoming light This makes them more useful for, e.g., solar cells used in combination with (large numerical aperture) optical concentrators. As a proof of principle, optical and electrical characterization of Si, GaAs, and InP solar cells embossed with the TiO2 NP-based optical coatings is included; where all three types of solar cells show an appreciable increase of the short-circuit current density ( Jsc)
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