Improving Energy Yield in Photovoltaic Modules with Photonic Structures

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Silicon-based photovoltaic modules operate above ambient temperatures, which both decreases energy yield and reduces the lifetime of the module. One of the major sources of elevated temperature is the parasitic absorption of sub-bandgap radiation. This project will create photonic structures on the surface of a crystalline-silicon cell that increase energy yield by simultaneously improving antireflection of above-bandgap light and reducing module temperature through reflection of infrared light. The structures will be deposited over the existing pyramids on the cell surface, and will be comprised of a small number of layers to be cost-effective. The structures will be created using a combination of opto-electrical-thermal modeling and experimental fabrication.