Ridge aperture antenna array as a high efficiency coupler for photovoltaic applications
Date of this Version
9-29-2011Citation
Edward C. Kinzel ; Pornsak Srisungsitthisunti and Xianfan Xu "Ridge aperture antenna array as a high efficiency coupler for photovoltaic applications", J. Photon. Energy. 1(1), 017002 (September 29, 2011). ;
Abstract
Weak absorption of light near the absorption band edge of a photovoltaic material is one limiting factor on the efficiency of photovoltaics. This is particularly true for silicon thin-film solar cells because of the short optical path lengths and limited options for texturing the front and back surfaces. Directing light laterally is one way to increase the optical path length and absorption. We investigate the use of a periodic array of apertures originated from bowtie aperture antennas to couple incident light into guided modes supported within a thin silicon film. We show the presence of the aperture array can increase the efficiency of a solar cell by as much as 39%. (C) 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.3644613]
Discipline(s)
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
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Comments
Edward C. Kinzel ; Pornsak Srisungsitthisunti ; Xianfan Xu, "Ridge aperture antenna array as a high efficiency coupler for photovoltaic applicationsa," Journal of Photonics for Energy. Volume 1. Issue 1 (2011).
Copyright 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.3644613