Introduction to Light Trapping in Solar Cell and Photo-detector Devices

Presents an in-depth discussion of the use of photonic and plasmonic effects for light trapping in solar cells.

Stephen Fonash (Author)

9780124166493, Elsevier Science

Paperback, published 18 September 2014

76 pages, 5 illustrations
22.9 x 15.1 x 0.7 cm, 0.12 kg

New Approaches to Light Trapping in Solar Cell Devices discusses in detail the use of photonic and plasmonic effects for light trapping in solar cells. It compares and contrasts texturing, the current method of light-trapping design in solar cells, with emerging approaches employing photonic and plasmonic phenomena. These new light trapping methods reduce the amount of absorber required in a solar cell, promising significant cost reduction and efficiency.

• Dedication
• Preface
• Chapter 1: A Brief Overview of Phenomena Involved in Light Trapping
  • Abstract
  • 1.1. Interference
  • 1.2. Scattering
  • 1.3. Reflection
  • 1.4. Diffraction
  • 1.5. Plasmonics
  • 1.6. Refraction
• Chapter 2: Modes and Hybridization
  • Abstract
  • 2.1. Introductory comments
  • 2.2. Radiation modes
  • 2.3. Trapped traveling modes: guided modes
  • 2.4. Trapped traveling modes: Bloch modes
  • 2.5. Trapped localized modes: Mie modes and plasma modes
• Chapter 3: Light-Trapping Structures
  • Abstract
  • 3.1. Introduction
  • 3.2. Planar structures with ARCs
  • 3.3. Planar structures with randomly textured surfaces
  • 3.4. Structures with nanoelement arrays
  • 3.5. Structures with plasmonic effects
• Chapter 4: Summary
  • Abstract
  • 4.1. The current picture
  • 4.2. Some future directions?
  • 4.3. Overview
• Appendix A: Yablonovitch Limit Derivation
• Appendix B: Fresnel Equations for the Situation of Section 2.2
• Appendix C: Index of Refraction, Permittivity, and Absorption Coefficient
• References

Subject Areas: Alternative & renewable energy sources & technology [THX]