Optimization of SiN x Single and Double Layer ARC for Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells on Glass

Abstract: The aim of this study is the optimization of the antireflection effect of SiN x in silicon on glass based structure. A numerical calculation is performed and a SiNx double stack antireflection coating is found to have significant advantages over single-layer due to their broad-range coverage of the solar spectrum. Moreover, it was found that minimum reflection losses is obtained for SiN x /SiN x double-layer ARC with refractive indexes of 1.9 et 2.3 for the top and the bottom layer, respectively. The effect of the incident angle on reflectance is also studied. The numerical optimization procedure and its results are presented

The effect of the recombination mechanisms location on the temperature sensitivity of thin-film photovoltaic cells

Thin film solar cells temperature sensitivity and impact of the main recombination mechanism location are investigated in this paper. The main mechanisms in bulk and at the heterojunction interface are discriminated. Using a 1D simulation software, “Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator” (SCAPS), we observed a higher temperature coefficient of open circuit voltage (Voc) for cells with main recombination centers at the interface than the one with main recombination centers in volume. Furthermore, an LTSpice module model is used to visualize the effects of the recombination centers' location on the performance ratios of the modules. The results show more degradation for the ratios performance of cells with the main recombination mechanisms at the interface than those in volume

Temperature impact on dusty and cleaned photovoltaic module exposed in sub-Saharan outdoor conditions

In this work, impacts of temperature and dust cleaning on photovoltaic module performance operating in sub-Saharan's climate are investigated. Two single junction technologies, monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon, and one micromorph (amorphous/micrystalline) thin film silicon tandem technology are considered. We have recorded at the same time under real operating conditions, the module temperature and the current versus voltage characteristics of each module, and the local solar irradiation. All the measurements were performed with the outdoor monitoring and test facility located at Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The results show the drop of generated power of dusty modules for the same irradiation level. Between April and June (where temperatures are higher) a significant drop of output power is observed, despite a daily cleaning. Furthermore, performance losses are observed for all technologies compared to that under standard test conditions. However, the micromorph silicon tandem technology with low temperature sensitivity present the less losses in performance compared to the monocrystalline and the polycrystalline single junction modules, even if the modules are not cleaned

Temperature impact on dusty and cleaned photovoltaic module exposed in sub-Saharan outdoor conditions

In this work, impacts of temperature and dust cleaning on photovoltaic module performance operating in sub-Saharan's climate are investigated. Two single junction technologies, monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon, and one micromorph (amorphous/micrystalline) thin film silicon tandem technology are considered. We have recorded at the same time under real operating conditions, the module temperature and the current versus voltage characteristics of each module, and the local solar irradiation. All the measurements were performed with the outdoor monitoring and test facility located at Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The results show the drop of generated power of dusty modules for the same irradiation level. Between April and June (where temperatures are higher) a significant drop of output power is observed, despite a daily cleaning. Furthermore, performance losses are observed for all technologies compared to that under standard test conditions. However, the micromorph silicon tandem technology with low temperature sensitivity present the less losses in performance compared to the monocrystalline and the polycrystalline single junction modules, even if the modules are not cleaned

The use of very thin active layer to improve the characteristics of TFTs based on not single crystalline semiconductors

International audienc

Thinning the active layer of TFTs

International audienc