Photonic Nanostructures Design and Optimization for Solar Cell Application

Photonics

Qian Liu¹  Eric Sandgren¹  Miles Barnhart²  Rui Zhu² 

[1] Department of System Engineering, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2801 S University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA; E-Mails:;Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, E3422, Lafferre Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: solar cell;    photonic nanostructures;    optical resonance;    genetic algorithm;    structural optimization;   

DOI  :  10.3390/photonics2030893

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this paper, a semiconducting photonic nanostructure capable of wide range absorption and tunable optical resonance has been designed with a proposed theoretical optimization model. The design consists of ZnO/CdS core-shell nanowire arrays as well as multilayer thin films that act to absorb incident electromagnetic (EM) waves over a broad frequency range. Theoretical, as well as numerical, studies of the nanostructure inside a solar cell plate have been conducted in order to validate the proposed microstructural design. Excellent energy absorption rates of EM waves have been achieved in the high frequency range by using the optical resonance of the nanowire array. By combining multilayer thin film with the core-shell nanowire in the unit cell of a photonic solar cell, a broadband high absorption has been achieved. Moreover, the geometry of the proposed photonic nanostructure is obtained through the implementation of a genetic algorithm. This avoids local minima and an optimized absorption rate of ~90% over the frequency range of 300 to 750 THz has been obtained in the solar cell.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.