COUPLING OF LIGHT INTO MECHANICALLY TEXTURED SILICON SOLAR-CELLS - A RAY-TRACING STUDY

Authors
Citation
R. Brendel, COUPLING OF LIGHT INTO MECHANICALLY TEXTURED SILICON SOLAR-CELLS - A RAY-TRACING STUDY, Progress in photovoltaics, 3(1), 1995, pp. 25-38
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Energy & Fuels","Physics, Applied
Journal title
ISSN journal
10627995
Volume
3
Issue
1
Year of publication
1995
Pages
25 - 38
Database
ISI
SICI code
1062-7995(1995)3:1<25:COLIMT>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Light coupling info mechanically, textured encapsulated silicon solar cells is studied by three-dimensional comprehensive ray tracing with o ur newly developed programme SUNRAYS. We analyse periodic textures wit h symmetric and non-symmetric pyramids and grooves. The facet angles o f the textures are varied systematically. The study considers the appa rent daily motion of the sun and diffuse illumination SUNRAYS accounts for the dependence of reflection and transmission on the wavelength, the angle of incidence and the polarization of light. As a result of b asic interest, we show that the maximum average path length theoretica lly possible under isotropic illumination is actually achieved by nume rous trapping schemes. As a result of practical interest, we demonstra te the outstanding performance of the simple prism groove texture, whi ch yields a large current density while preserving a small surface whe n compared to all other textures investigated.