Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells
Ultra-thin solar cells enable materials to be saved, reduce deposition time, and promote carrier collection from materials with short diffusion lengths. However, light absorption efficiency in ultra-thin solar panels remains a limiting factor. Most methods to increase light absorption in ultra-thin...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/19/2650 |
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| author | Mikita Marus Yauhen Mukha Him-Ting Wong Tak-Lam Chan Aliaksandr Smirnov Aliaksandr Hubarevich Haibo Hu |
| author_facet | Mikita Marus Yauhen Mukha Him-Ting Wong Tak-Lam Chan Aliaksandr Smirnov Aliaksandr Hubarevich Haibo Hu |
| author_sort | Mikita Marus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ultra-thin solar cells enable materials to be saved, reduce deposition time, and promote carrier collection from materials with short diffusion lengths. However, light absorption efficiency in ultra-thin solar panels remains a limiting factor. Most methods to increase light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells are either technically challenging or costly, given the thinness of the functional layers involved. We propose a cost-efficient and lithography-free solution to enhance light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells—a Tsuchime-like self-forming nanocrater (T-NC) aluminum (Al) film. T-NC Al film can be produced by the electrochemical anodization of Al, followed by etching the nanoporous alumina. Theoretical studies show that T-NC film can increase the average absorbance by 80.3%, depending on the active layer’s thickness. The wavelength range of increased absorption varies with the active layer thickness, with the peak of absolute absorbance increase moving from 620 nm to 950 nm as the active layer thickness increases from 500 nm to 10 µm. We have also shown that the absorbance increase is retained regardless of the active layer material. Therefore, T-NC Al film significantly boosts absorbance in ultra-thin solar cells without requiring expensive lithography, and regardless of the active layer material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:38:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d32169c9dfd4f678a0b851f1ffe29a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:38:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d32169c9dfd4f678a0b851f1ffe29a02023-11-19T14:48:54ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-09-011319265010.3390/nano13192650Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic CellsMikita Marus0Yauhen Mukha1Him-Ting Wong2Tak-Lam Chan3Aliaksandr Smirnov4Aliaksandr Hubarevich5Haibo Hu6Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS), Unit 1212–1213, 12/F, Building 19W, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaLaboratory for Information Display and Processing Units, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6 P. Brovki, 220013 Minsk, BelarusCentre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS), Unit 1212–1213, 12/F, Building 19W, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaCentre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS), Unit 1212–1213, 12/F, Building 19W, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaLaboratory for Information Display and Processing Units, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6 P. Brovki, 220013 Minsk, BelarusLaboratory for Information Display and Processing Units, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6 P. Brovki, 220013 Minsk, BelarusCentre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS), Unit 1212–1213, 12/F, Building 19W, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaUltra-thin solar cells enable materials to be saved, reduce deposition time, and promote carrier collection from materials with short diffusion lengths. However, light absorption efficiency in ultra-thin solar panels remains a limiting factor. Most methods to increase light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells are either technically challenging or costly, given the thinness of the functional layers involved. We propose a cost-efficient and lithography-free solution to enhance light absorption in ultra-thin solar cells—a Tsuchime-like self-forming nanocrater (T-NC) aluminum (Al) film. T-NC Al film can be produced by the electrochemical anodization of Al, followed by etching the nanoporous alumina. Theoretical studies show that T-NC film can increase the average absorbance by 80.3%, depending on the active layer’s thickness. The wavelength range of increased absorption varies with the active layer thickness, with the peak of absolute absorbance increase moving from 620 nm to 950 nm as the active layer thickness increases from 500 nm to 10 µm. We have also shown that the absorbance increase is retained regardless of the active layer material. Therefore, T-NC Al film significantly boosts absorbance in ultra-thin solar cells without requiring expensive lithography, and regardless of the active layer material.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/19/2650thin filmnanostructuresolar energy harvestingsolar cellsnanomaterial |
| spellingShingle | Mikita Marus Yauhen Mukha Him-Ting Wong Tak-Lam Chan Aliaksandr Smirnov Aliaksandr Hubarevich Haibo Hu Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells Nanomaterials thin film nanostructure solar energy harvesting solar cells nanomaterial |
| title | Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells |
| title_full | Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells |
| title_fullStr | Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells |
| title_short | Tsuchime-like Aluminum Film to Enhance Absorption in Ultra-Thin Photovoltaic Cells |
| title_sort | tsuchime like aluminum film to enhance absorption in ultra thin photovoltaic cells |
| topic | thin film nanostructure solar energy harvesting solar cells nanomaterial |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/19/2650 |
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