Method for preparing aluminum nanostructure array, three-dimensional solar cell and photovoltaic cell

Abstract

Described herein are a method for obtaining a three-dimensional nanostructure array on an aluminum substrate, a three-dimensional solar cell including such a three-dimensional nanostructure array, and a photovoltaic cell. The method includes anodizing the aluminum substrate; forming an oxide layer on the aluminum substrate; texturizing the aluminum substrate; etching the oxide layer from the aluminum substrate to expose the texturized aluminum substrate; and forming a three-dimensional aluminum nanostructure array on the aluminum substrate. The method is a low cost and scalable process to obtain three-dimensional nanostructure arrays on an aluminum surface. The three-dimensional nanostructure array, coated with a light absorber, is utilized in a thin film solar cell or photovoltaic cell. The reflectance of the solar cell and photovoltaic cell is low compared to the reflectance exhibited by the light absorber coated on a planar aluminum substrate.

Description

[0001] Related application [0002] This application claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 573,153 entitled "Self-assembled three-dimensional aluminum nano-nail array and its application in the field of effective light absorption and photovoltaic cells" filed on September 16, 2011. Technical field [0003] The present invention generally relates to a preparation method and application of a three-dimensional aluminum nanostructure array. Background technique [0004] Nanostructured materials have broad application prospects in anti-reflection coatings and solar cells. Three-dimensional nanostructured materials, such as nanotubes, nanorods, nanopillars, nanocones, nanodomes, and nanowires, are very attractive in anti-reflective coatings due to their large surface area. Compared with the surface structure of the two-dimensional textured substrate, the larger surface area of ​​the three-dimensional nanostructured material can promote broadband and more effective light ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although 3D nanostructured materials have proven to be very effective in promoting broadband absorption and light trapping, these top-down and bottom-up approaches are still expensive, complex, controllable, and poorly scalable

If 3D nanostructured materials are used as anti-reflection coatings or anti-reflection templates for solar cells, the disadvantages of these top-down and bottom-up methods, such as high cost, complexity, controllability, and poor scale, will limit the development of 3D nanostructures. Applications of Structural Materials

[0006] The background mentioned above is only an overview of the synthesis of three-dimensional nanostructured materials and their application in anti-reflection coatings, and is not thorough.

Images