Abstract
We synthesized a silver nanoparticle/zinc oxide (Ag NP/ZnO) thin film by using spin-coating technology. The treatment solution for Ag NP/ZnO thin film deposition contained zinc acetate (Zn(CH3COO)2), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and silver nitrate (AgNO3) aqueous solutions. The crystalline characteristics, surface morphology, content of elements, and reflectivity of the Ag NPs/ZnO thin film at various concentrations of the AgNO3 aqueous solution were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible–near infrared spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the crystalline structure, Ag content, and reflectance of Ag NP/ZnO thin films depended on the AgNO3 concentration. Hybrid antireflection coatings (ARCs) composed of SiNx and Ag NPs/ZnO thin films with various AgNO3 concentrations were deposited on GaInP/(In)GaAs/Ge solar cells. We propose that the optimal ARC consists of SiNx and Ag NP/ZnO thin films prepared using a treatment solution of 0.0008 M AgNO3, 0.007 M Zn(CH3COO)2, and 1 M NaOH, followed by post-annealing at 200 °C. GaInP/(Al)GaAs/Ge solar cells with the optimal hybrid ARC and SiNx ARC exhibit a conversion efficiency of 34.1% and 30.2% with Voc = 2.39 and 2.4 V, Jsc = 16.63 and 15.37 mA/cm2, and fill factor = 86.1% and 78.8%.
Highlights
Multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs) based on III-V compound semiconductors have attracted much attention for space and terrestrial applications because they are composed of inherently tunable and direct bandgap materials, resulting in a high conversion efficiency due to the absorption of a varied solar spectrum [1,2,3]
The Zn(CH3 COO)2 aqueous solution composed of Zn2+ and CH3 COO− ions was mixed with the NaOH aqueous solution containing Na+ and OH− ions to form a zinc oxide (ZnO) treatment solution
We proposed an Ag NP/ZnO thin film on an SNG substrate and a GaInP/(Al)GaAs/Ge solar cell created using spin-coating technology
Summary
Multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs) based on III-V compound semiconductors have attracted much attention for space and terrestrial applications because they are composed of inherently tunable and direct bandgap materials, resulting in a high conversion efficiency due to the absorption of a varied solar spectrum [1,2,3]. In addition to device structure design, antireflection coatings (ARCs) are usually applied to the tops of MJSCs to reduce surface reflection and enhance incident sunlight. ARCs can improve the lack of absorption of MJSCs under one-sun or low-concentration sunlight for terrestrial applications, and enhance the conversion efficiency of solar cells. Textured surface window layers with submicron morphology on solar cells can enhance conversion efficiency by improving the absorption of broadband and divergent sunlight. The conversion efficiency and short current density of GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cells with the optimal hybrid ARC constituted a substantial improvement over GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cells with SiNx ARCs
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