Enhancement in Power Conversion Efficiency of GaAs Solar Cells by Utilizing Gold Nanostar Film for Light-Trapping.

Jun Yang,Yun-Feng Zhu,Bin Bian,Sheng-Qing Zhu,Lang Feng,Dan Zhang

doi:10.3389/fchem.2019.00137

Jun Yang, Yun-Feng Zhu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2019.00137

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Abstract

Light trapping, caused by the introduction of metallic nanoparticles, has been demonstrated to enhance photo-absorption in GaAs solar cells. In this study, we successfully synthesized gold nanostar thin film with hot spots and obtained a notable improvement of power conversion efficiency (PCE) in single-junction and three-junction high-performance GaAs solar cells by incorporating the poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layer, which enables a much stronger light trapping capability and scattering enhancement than conventional metal nanostructures. Increases of 5.2% and 3.94% in short circuit current density (Isc) were achieved for single-junction cells and three-junction cells while the enhancement in cell PCE was 3.85 and 2.50%, respectively. The relationship between the optical characteristics, the distribution density of the gold NSs and the performance of GaAs solar cells was systemically investigated.

Highlights

Since the first research on noble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs) for enhanced photodetectors by Stuart et al (Stuart and Hall, 1996, 1998), NMNPs have been intensively studied as a potential route to improve the performance of solar cells (Kim et al, 2017; Li et al, 2018)
The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) band of Au Nanostars (Au NSs) can be tuned from visible to the infrared region by manipulating the length of the particle tips to match the light absorption of the photovoltaic layer (Yuan et al, 2012). Due to these novel properties of Au NSs, in this study we report a simple method to synthesize Au NSs at room temperature and pressure by a chemical synthesis process and apply the functional film of PEDOT:PSS decorated with Au NSs directly onto the single-junction (S-J) and three-junction (T-J) GaAs solar cells for cost-effective coating and higher performances
We investigated the plasmonic effects induced by spin-coated PEDOT:PSS/Au NS films with different Au NS concentrations on the light absorption and power conversion efficiency in single-junction and three-junction GaAs solar cells

Summary

Introduction

Since the first research on noble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs) for enhanced photodetectors by Stuart et al (Stuart and Hall, 1996, 1998), NMNPs have been intensively studied as a potential route to improve the performance of solar cells (Kim et al, 2017; Li et al, 2018). Au Nanostar for Light Trapping fabricated via an AAO template and the thermal annealing process of evaporated Ag on the cell surface, and the PCE of solar cells produced in this way was significantly lower compared to the commercial GaAs solar cells (Nakayama et al, 2008; Liu et al, 2011). These methods are applicable for the rapid, simple and productive preparation of plasmonic NPs with ordinary structures on GaAs solar cells. Developing a simple but effective method to incorporate NMNPs into GaAs solar cells is one of the primary challenges to further improving their power conversion efficiency

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