Laser-Textured Thin-Film Semiconductors for Enhanced Light Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic devices face challenges in enhancing light absorption without increasing thickness, which is costly and prone to degradation, and traditional texturing methods are difficult to implement on thin-film devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving laser-texturing of semiconductor layers by applying pulsed laser pulses to melt and ablate the surface, creating a textured surface that enhances light absorption through refractive effects without significant material removal, allowing for thin absorber layers and improved optical path lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the thickness of photovoltaic device layers is increased to enhance light absorption, then light absorption improves, but manufacturing cost increases and device reliability deteriorates due to carrier diffusion length limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from increasing thickness (one dimension) to creating surface texture (another dimension). By texturing the rear surface with pyramidal structures, the optical path length is extended without increasing the physical thickness of the absorber layer, thus maintaining reliability while improving light absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved/pyramidal surface structures instead of flat surfaces. The pyramidal texture creates multiple reflections and extends the optical path length through curved light trajectories, enhancing absorption without requiring increased material thickness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the thickness of photovoltaic device layers is increased to enhance light absorption, then light absorption improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing thicker layers (increasing material consumption and processing complexity), the patent applies surface texturing to the existing thin-film structure. This dimensional approach allows standard thin-film manufacturing processes to be used while achieving enhanced absorption through optical path extension via pyramidal structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases light absorption and external quantum efficiency, improving short circuit current and light scattering while maintaining thin device thickness, making it suitable for non-terrestrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
texturing a surface of the semiconductor layer by applying one or more laser pulses to the surface of the semiconductor to form a textured surface, each of the one or more laser pulses causing at least a partial melting of the surface of the semiconductor
Implementation Method 2
each of the one or more laser pulses causing at least a partial melting of the surface of the semiconductor
Implementation Method 3
texturing a surface of the semiconductor layer by applying one or more laser pulses to the surface of the semiconductor to form a textured surface
Implementation Method 4
The laser-textured surface, which is formed on a semiconductor layer including a compound semiconductor material such as a group III-V semiconductor material, may cause a longer path for light to travel within the photovoltaic devices resulting in improved light absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic device and a method of making the photovoltaic device are disclosed. The photovoltaic device may include a semiconductor layer epitaxially grown using a compound semiconductor material, such as a group III-V semiconductor material, wherein a surface of the semiconductor layer is textured via one or more laser pulses of a laser. The photovoltaic device may also include a dielectric layer deposited over the textured surface of the semiconductor layer, and a back metal reflector provided on the dielectric layer. The textured surface extends a path of light traveling through the photovoltaic device to increase absorption of the light within the photovoltaic device.