Improving dielectric nano-resonator-based antireflection coatings for photovoltaics

Published

September 19, 2018

Author(s)

Dongheon Ha, Nikolai B. Zhitenev

Abstract

We demonstrate optical and electrical property enhancement of solar cells using a variety of dielectric nano-resonator array coatings. First, we study close-packed silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano-resonator arrays on top of silicon (Si) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells. From macroscale measurements and calculations, we find that absorptivity of solar cells can be improved by 20 % due to the resonant couplings of excited whispering gallery modes and the thin-film antireflection effect. Next, we image photocurrent enhancement at the nanoscale via near-field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM). Strong local photocurrent enhancement is observed over each nano-resonator at wavelengths corresponding to the whispering gallery mode excitation. Finally, for better optical coupling to solar cells, we explore hybrid nano- resonator arrays combining multiple materials such as silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and titanium dioxide. Due to higher number of photonic modes within such hybrid coatings, absorptivity is enhanced by more than 30 % in a Si solar cell.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of SPIE

Volume

10730

Conference Dates

August 19-23, 2018

Conference Location

San Diego, CA

Conference Title

SPIE Optics and Photonics

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320744

Keywords

Antireflection coatings, nanospheres, nanoresonators, whispering gallery modes, absorptivity enhancements, photocurrent enhancements, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), near- field scanning photocurrent microscopy (NSPM)

Citation

Ha, D. and Zhitenev, N. (2018), Improving dielectric nano-resonator-based antireflection coatings for photovoltaics, Proceedings of SPIE, San Diego, CA, [online], https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320744 (Accessed April 26, 2026)

Additional citation formats