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Design and Analysis of Nano-Structured Gratings for Conversion Efficiency Improvement in GaAs Solar Cells

Author

Listed:
  • Narottam Das

    (School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia)

  • Syed Islam

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia)

Abstract

This paper presents the design and analysis of nano-structured gratings to improve the conversion efficiency in GaAs solar cells by reducing the light reflection losses. A finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulation tool is used to design and simulate the light reflection losses of the subwavelength grating (SWG) structure in GaAs solar cells. The SWG structures perform as an excellent alternative antireflective (AR) coating due to their capacity to reduce the reflection losses in GaAs solar cells. It allows the gradual change in the refractive index that confirms an excellent AR and the light trapping properties, when compared with the planar thin film structures. The nano-rod structure performs as a single layer AR coating, whereas the triangular (i.e., conical or perfect cone) and parabolic (i.e., trapezoidal/truncated cone) shaped nano-grating structures perform as a multilayer AR coating. The simulation results confirm that the reflection loss of triangular-shaped nano-grating structures having a 300-nm grating height and a 830-nm period is about 2%, which is about 28% less than the flat type substrates. It also found that the intermediate (i.e., trapezoidal and parabolic)-shaped structures, the light reflection loss is lower than the rectangular shaped nano-grating structure, but higher than the triangular shaped nano-grating structure. This analysis confirmed that the triangular shaped nano-gratings are an excellent alternative AR coating for conversion efficiency improvement in GaAs solar cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Narottam Das & Syed Islam, 2016. "Design and Analysis of Nano-Structured Gratings for Conversion Efficiency Improvement in GaAs Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:9:p:690-:d:76896
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mine Kaya & Shima Hajimirza, 2017. "Extremely Efficient Design of Organic Thin Film Solar Cells via Learning-Based Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Mohammed H. Alsharif, 2017. "Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Stand-Alone Power System Based on Solar Power/Batteries for Global System for Mobile Communications Base Stations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Banjo A. Aderemi & S. P. Daniel Chowdhury & Thomas O. Olwal & Adnan M. Abu-Mahfouz, 2018. "Techno-Economic Feasibility of Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage Power System for a Mobile Cellular Base Station in Soshanguve, South Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-26, June.

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