Study on the solar energy absorption of hybrid solar cells with trapezoid-pyramidal structure based PEDOT:PSS/c-Ge

Abstract

In this paper, we have utilized finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to investigate the solar energy absorption of hybrid solar cells (HSCs) with trapezoid-pyramidal structure (TPs) based PEDOT:PSS/c-Ge. We have changed some parameters of TPs (different heights and different ratios of top to bottom) to study its effects on the solar energy absorption for HSCs. The optimization of geometric parameters is based on the maximum solar energy absorption efficiency. The optical absorption of the HSCs with TPs is basically above 90% from ~300 nm to ~1300 nm and the average solar energy absorption is 93.8% under AM 1.5 solar spectrum (from 300 nm to 1500 nm). Simultaneously, we have calculated the short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), maximum power (Pmax) and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) respectively through DEVICE software. The results of electrical simulation reveal that the maximum Jsc is 43.47 mA/cm2, it is 45.73% higher than planar PEDOT:PSS/c-Ge HSCs. Moreover, to further explain the mechanism of solar energy absorption of HSCs with TPs, the logarithmic figures of electric field intensity for trapezoid-pyramidal PEDOT:PSS/c-Ge HSCs and planar PEDOT:PSS/c-Ge HSCs at different wavelengths are analyzed. The result shows that TPs array has shown excellent light-trapping effect. This work reveals the huge potential of c-Ge HSCs in solar absorption, and at the same time has certain guiding significance for the structural design of Ge SCs. It is believed that through further exploration, the conversion efficiency of c-Ge HSCs will be further improved.