Login (DCU Staff Only)
Login (DCU Staff Only)

DORAS | DCU Research Repository

Explore open access research and scholarly works from DCU

Advanced Search

Laser machined macro and micro structures on glass for enhanced light trapping in solar cells

Moore, David, Rahman, Mahfujur, Dowling, Denis P. orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-7853-2478, McNally, Patrick J. orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-2798-5121 and Brabazon, Dermot orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-3214-6381 (2013) Laser machined macro and micro structures on glass for enhanced light trapping in solar cells. Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing, 110 (3). pp. 661-665. ISSN 1432-0630

Abstract
In order to increase the efficiency of solar cell modules it is necessary to make the optimum use of light incident upon them. Much research has been done on improving light absorption through front surface texturisation and light trapping schemes. Laser light is commonly used in industry for various applications including marking and texturisation. By controlling laser parameters, it is possible to tailor macro and micro structures in most materials. The CO2 laser used in this investigation emits radiation at 10.6 μm with the ability to pulse in the micro-second range. The laser was used to ablate grooved textures in the fused quartz material, used in this study as the light trapping medium, following which an analysis of the effects of the laser parameters on the texture geometry and surface morphology was performed through a combination of cross sectioning and scanning electron microscopy. Transmission through the textured glass was improved for most samples after acid etching. The light trapping effects of the best performing textures were analysed by investigating the effects on a silicon solar cell’s performance at varying angles of incidence. Results indicated a significant increase in light trapping when light was incident at acute angles. For an angle of incidence of 10◦ a relative increase in efficiency of up to 51 % was observed.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Surfaces; Solar cells
Subjects:Engineering > Materials
Engineering > Mechanical engineering
Engineering > Electronics
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Engineering and Computing > School of Electronic Engineering
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Engineering and Computing > School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Publisher:Springer Verlag
Official URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7147-4
Copyright Information:© 2013 Springer. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:20538
Deposited On:01 Apr 2015 10:06 by Fran Callaghan . Last Modified 11 Jun 2021 10:57
Documents

Full text available as:

[thumbnail of _Moore_D_Applied_Physics_A_2013_Macro_micro_texture_for_light_trapping.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
353kB
Downloads

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Archive Staff Only: edit this record