Photovoltaic Cell Surface Structure for Large-Angle Light Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photovoltaic cells with textured structures have poor omnidirectionality, leading to reduced absorption of light with large incident angles, which limits their power generation capacity and requires optimal installation angles or expensive tracking systems.
Innovation Solution
The photovoltaic cell incorporates a textured structure with pyramid and/or inverted pyramid structures, combined with a second region of micron-scale pits on its surface. The pits, with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 100 microns and deviation angles less than 15 degrees, enhance light absorption for large-angle incident light, improving omnidirectionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a textured structure with pyramid and/or inverted pyramid shapes is used to reduce light reflection, then the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved for direct light or light with small incident angles, but the omnidirectionality deteriorates and light with large incident angles is reflected back to air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the surface structure into two distinct regions: a first region with pyramid-shaped textured structures for small incident angles, and a second region with microlens arrays for large incident angles. This segmentation allows each region to specialize in handling specific light angles, thereby improving overall omnidirectionality while maintaining high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
2Productivity
If a nanoscale light-trapping structure is prepared through black silicon process to improve light trapping for large incident angles, then the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, but the surface area increases significantly making it hard to generate uniform passivation layer and increasing carrier recombination rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scale parameter from nanoscale to microscale for the light-trapping structures. By using microlenses with larger dimensions instead of nanoscale structures, the surface area increase is controlled, allowing uniform passivation layer formation while still achieving effective light trapping for large incident angles.
3Ease of manufacture
If only a textured structure is used on the photovoltaic cell surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the absorption of light with large incident angles is poor requiring optimal installation angles or expensive tracking systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different surface structures into a single photovoltaic cell: pyramid-shaped textured structures in the first region and microlens arrays in the second region. This combination enables the cell to effectively absorb both small and large incident angles of light, improving power generation capacity without requiring complex installation arrangements or tracking systems.
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 design significantly improves the absorption of light across various incident angles, enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency and power generation capacity of the photovoltaic cell without the need for precise installation angles or tracking systems.
Implementation Method 1
a texturing process may be used to prepare pyramid and/or inverted pyramid-shaped textured structures on the surface of the photovoltaic cell, so that the photovoltaic cell can absorb more sunlight for photoelectric conversion
Implementation Method 2
the second region is configured as a microlens array... the deviation angle between a sidewall of each of the pits and a thickness direction of the cell body is less than 15 degrees
Implementation Method 3
the photovoltaic cell can absorb more sunlight for photoelectric conversion
Data Source
AI summary
At least one surface of a cell body of a photovoltaic cell includes a first area and a second area; the first area is configured as a textured structure; the second area is configured as a plurality of pits having a projection size of 0.5 to 100 microns on the surface of the cell body.