Publication
Self-Patterned Nanoparticle Layers for Vertical Interconnects: Application in Tandem Solar Cells
Abstract
We demonstrate self-patterned insulating nanoparticle layers to define local electrical interconnects in thin-film electronic devices. We show this with thin-film silicon tandem solar cells, where we introduce between the two component cells a solution-processed SiO2 nanoparticle layer with local openings to allow for charge transport. Because of its low refractive index, high transparency, and smooth surface, the SiO2 nanoparticle layer acts as an excellent intermediate reflector allowing for efficient light management.
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Related concepts (19)
Thin-film solar cell
Thin-film solar cells are made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin films or TFs) of photovoltaic material onto a substrate, such as glass, plastic or metal. Thin-film solar cells are typically a few nanometers (nm) to a few microns (μm) thick–much thinner than the wafers used in conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) based solar cells, which can be up to 200 μm thick. Thin-film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies, including cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and amorphous thin-film silicon (a-Si, TF-Si).
Solar cell
A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical phenomenon. It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as current, voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Individual solar cell devices are often the electrical building blocks of photovoltaic modules, known colloquially as solar panels.
Multi-junction solar cell
Multi-junction (MJ) solar cells are solar cells with multiple p–n junctions made of different semiconductor materials. Each material's p-n junction will produce electric current in response to different wavelengths of light. The use of multiple semiconducting materials allows the absorbance of a broader range of wavelengths, improving the cell's sunlight to electrical energy conversion efficiency. Traditional single-junction cells have a maximum theoretical efficiency of 33.16%.
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2020