Improvement of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Photovoltaic Cells with Zinc Oxide Nanorods
Source abstract
Abstract
In this study, zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) were produced using a chemical solution method, which was applied to the surfaces of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film photovoltaic cells as an anti-reflective layer (ARL). ZnO NRs of different lengths were grown on Si substrates by controlling the growth time. They were then analyzed using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), UV-vis spectrometer, and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), thereby obtaining the optimal growth conditions for ZnO NRs. The optimal growth parameters were applied to the surface of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells. The results show that the short-circuit current density increased from 6.23 mA/cm2 to 8.05 mA/cm2, and the efficiency increased from 3.49% to 4.51%, an increase of approximately 29%. In addition, ZnO NRs growing on the surfaces of a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic cells can reduce the hydrophilicity. The experimental results show that ZnO NRs have great application potential, not only for improving the conversion efficiency, but also for protecting the devices from external environmental influences.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Thin-Film Transistor Technologies · Nanowire Synthesis and Applications · Optical Coatings and Gratings
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Electrical Engineering Program C, Yuan-Ze University, Chung-Li 32003, Taiwan
Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
References (30)
Show source-provided references
1. Effect of dust accumulation on solar transmittance through glass covers of plate-type collectors10.1016/S0960-1481(00)00093-8 ↗
2. Advances in approaches and methods for self-cleaning of solar photovoltaic panels10.1016/j.solener.2017.12.023 ↗
3. Thin-Film Silicon Triple-Junction Solar Cells on Highly Transparent Front Electrodes with Stabilized Efficiencies up to 12.8%10.1109/JPHOTOV.2014.2307162 ↗
4. Preparation of hybrid silicon wire and planar solar cells having ZnO antireflection coating by all-solution processes10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.007 ↗
5. Optical thin-film materials with low refractive index for broadband elimination of Fresnel reflection10.1038/nphoton.2007.26 ↗
6. Embedded biomimetic nanostructures for enhanced optical absorption in thin-film solar cells10.1364/OE.19.00A757 ↗
7. ZnO hollow sphere prepared by flame spray pyrolysis serves as an anti-reflection layer that improves the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells10.1016/j.optmat.2020.110077 ↗
8. Investigating the effect of sol–gel solution concentration on the efficiency of silicon solar cells: Role of ZnO nanoparticles as anti-reflective layer10.1007/s11696-019-00872-0 ↗
9. Synthesis and Characterization of Antireflective ZnO Nanoparticles Coatings Used for Energy Improving Efficiency of Silicone Solar Cells10.1007/s13391-018-0028-z ↗
10. Plasma-produced ZnO nanorod arrays as an antireflective layer in c-Si solar cells10.1007/s10853-018-3099-1 ↗
11. Rapid growth of zinc oxide nanobars in presence of electric field by physical vapor deposition10.1007/s40094-017-0270-z ↗
12. UV sensing properties of ZnO nanowires/nanorods10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.11.056 ↗
13. Enhanced absorption and carrier collection in Si wire arrays for photovoltaic applications10.1038/nmat2635 ↗
14. Nanorod solar cell with an ultrathin a-Si:H absorber layer10.1063/1.3567527 ↗
15. Fabrication and characterization of nanorod solar cells with an ultrathin a-Si:H absorber layer10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2011.11.021 ↗
16. Integration of n-doped ZnO nanorod structures as novel light-trapping concept in amorphous thin film silicon solar cells10.1016/j.solmat.2012.12.042 ↗
17. Optically induced conductivity changes in discharge-produced hydrogenateda morphous silicon10.1063/1.328084 ↗
18. Modeling of light-induced degradation of amorphous silicon solar cells10.1016/j.solmat.2007.08.010 ↗
19. Efficient nanorod-based amorphous silicon solar cells with advanced light Trapping10.1063/1.4935539 ↗
20. Omnidirectional light-harvesting enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells with ZnO nanorods10.1002/er.4479 ↗
21. Shah, D.-K., KC, D., Akhtar, M.-S., Kim, C.-Y., and Yang, O.-B. (2020). Vertically Arranged Zinc Oxide Nanorods as Antireflection Layer for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell: A Simulation Study of Photovoltaic Properties. Appl. Sci., 10.10.3390/app10176062 ↗
22. Effect of Growth Time on the Characteristics of ZnO Nanorods10.1088/1757-899X/202/1/012050 ↗
23. Sol–gel synthesized zinc oxide nanorods and their structural and optical investigation for optoelectronic application10.1186/1556-276X-9-429 ↗
24. All-solid, flexible solar textiles based on dye-sensitized solar cells with ZnO nanorod arrays on stainless steel Wires10.1016/j.mseb.2013.06.018 ↗
25. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods on porous silicon substrates: Effect of growth time10.1016/j.pnsc.2015.03.002 ↗
26. The angluar reflectance of single-layer gradient refractive-index films10.1364/JOSA.67.001046 ↗
27. Antireflection structured surfaces for the infrared spectral region10.1364/AO.32.001154 ↗
28. Integrated ZnO nanotips on GaN light emitting diodes for enhanced emission efficiency10.1063/1.2741052 ↗
29. Efficiency improvement of silicon solar cells enabled by ZnO nanowhisker array coating10.1186/1556-276X-7-306 ↗
30. Fabrication of transparent, durable and self-cleaning superhydrophobic coatings for solar cells10.1039/D0NJ01402H ↗