Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells
In this paper, we propose an optimized structure of thin Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> (CIGS) solar cells with a grating aluminum oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) passivation layer (GAPL) providing nano-sized contact openings in order to improve power conversion effi...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4849 |
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| author | Chan Hyeon Park Jun Yong Kim Shi-Joon Sung Dae-Hwan Kim Yun Seon Do |
| author_facet | Chan Hyeon Park Jun Yong Kim Shi-Joon Sung Dae-Hwan Kim Yun Seon Do |
| author_sort | Chan Hyeon Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, we propose an optimized structure of thin Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> (CIGS) solar cells with a grating aluminum oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) passivation layer (GAPL) providing nano-sized contact openings in order to improve power conversion efficiency using optoelectrical simulations. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is used as a rear surface passivation material to reduce carrier recombination and improve reflectivity at a rear surface for high efficiency in thin CIGS solar cells. To realize high efficiency for thin CIGS solar cells, the optimized structure was designed by manipulating two structural factors: the contact opening width (COW) and the pitch of the GAPL. Compared with an unpassivated thin CIGS solar cell, the efficiency was improved up to 20.38% when the pitch of the GAPL was 7.5–12.5 μm. Furthermore, the efficiency was improved as the COW of the GAPL was decreased. The maximum efficiency value occurred when the COW was 100 nm because of the effective carrier recombination inhibition and high reflectivity of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> insulator passivation with local contacts. These results indicate that the designed structure has optimized structural points for high-efficiency thin CIGS solar cells. Therefore, the photovoltaic (PV) generator and sensor designers can achieve the higher performance of photosensitive thin CIGS solar cells by considering these results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:23:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-739f78d3bd6a4948b85867ea712e8880 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:23:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-739f78d3bd6a4948b85867ea712e88802023-11-22T04:56:58ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-07-012114484910.3390/s21144849Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar CellsChan Hyeon Park0Jun Yong Kim1Shi-Joon Sung2Dae-Hwan Kim3Yun Seon Do4School of Electronics Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Daegu 41566, KoreaSchool of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Daegu 41566, KoreaDivision of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, KoreaDivision of Energy Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, KoreaSchool of Electronics Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Daegu 41566, KoreaIn this paper, we propose an optimized structure of thin Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> (CIGS) solar cells with a grating aluminum oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) passivation layer (GAPL) providing nano-sized contact openings in order to improve power conversion efficiency using optoelectrical simulations. Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is used as a rear surface passivation material to reduce carrier recombination and improve reflectivity at a rear surface for high efficiency in thin CIGS solar cells. To realize high efficiency for thin CIGS solar cells, the optimized structure was designed by manipulating two structural factors: the contact opening width (COW) and the pitch of the GAPL. Compared with an unpassivated thin CIGS solar cell, the efficiency was improved up to 20.38% when the pitch of the GAPL was 7.5–12.5 μm. Furthermore, the efficiency was improved as the COW of the GAPL was decreased. The maximum efficiency value occurred when the COW was 100 nm because of the effective carrier recombination inhibition and high reflectivity of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> insulator passivation with local contacts. These results indicate that the designed structure has optimized structural points for high-efficiency thin CIGS solar cells. Therefore, the photovoltaic (PV) generator and sensor designers can achieve the higher performance of photosensitive thin CIGS solar cells by considering these results.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4849photovoltaicsthin CIGS solar cellssurface passivationaluminum oxide |
| spellingShingle | Chan Hyeon Park Jun Yong Kim Shi-Joon Sung Dae-Hwan Kim Yun Seon Do Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells Sensors photovoltaics thin CIGS solar cells surface passivation aluminum oxide |
| title | Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells |
| title_full | Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells |
| title_short | Design of Grating Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells |
| title_sort | design of grating al sub 2 sub o sub 3 sub passivation structure optimized for high efficiency cu in ga se sub 2 sub solar cells |
| topic | photovoltaics thin CIGS solar cells surface passivation aluminum oxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4849 |
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