Porous Insulating Layer Enhances Light Scattering in Solar Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photoelectric conversion elements with a reflective layer not arranged to maximize light-scattering effect face reduced efficiency due to the inhibitory effect of the porous insulating layer, making it difficult to produce large-area solar cells with high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The reflective layer is formed with a larger projected area than the photoelectric conversion layer, and the porous insulating layer is arranged to cover the photoelectric conversion layer, enhancing the light-scattering effect by using materials like niobium oxide and titanium oxide, with a thickness of 0.2 μm to 5 μm to improve the module's efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the reflective layer is arranged directly on the photoelectric conversion layer to maximize light-scattering effect, then photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, but layer delamination occurs due to material incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
A porous insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the photoelectric conversion layer and the reflective layer. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between incompatible materials (avoiding delamination) while still allowing the reflective layer to scatter light effectively through its porous structure and optimal thickness (0.2-5 μm).
Solution Approach 2:
The porous insulating layer is positioned specifically at the interface between the photoelectric conversion layer and reflective layer, providing localized insulation and adhesion functions where needed, while maintaining the overall light-scattering functionality of the reflective layer through careful thickness control.
2Reliability
If the porous insulating layer thickness is increased to improve layer adhesion, then layer stability is improved, but light-scattering effect of the reflective layer is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness of the porous insulating layer is optimized within a specific range (0.2-5 μm) to balance two competing requirements: sufficient thickness to provide adequate adhesion and electrical insulation, but not so thick as to block light scattering from the reflective layer. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between adhesion strength and optical functionality.
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 configuration enhances the photoelectric conversion efficiency by improving the light-scattering effect, allowing for the production of high-efficiency photoelectric conversion elements and modules, including large-area solar cells.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the light-scattering effect by using materials like niobium oxide and titanium oxide
Implementation Method 2
a photoelectric conversion element on the basis of photoinduced electron transfer in a metal complex
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a photoelectric conversion element and a photoelectric conversion element module including the photoelectric conversion element, the photoelectric conversion element including a transparent substrate, a first and second transparent conductive layer arranged on the transparent substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer arranged on the first transparent conductive layer, a porous insulating layer covering the photoelectric conversion layer, a reflective layer arranged on the porous insulating layer, and a counter conductive layer that are arranged on the reflective layer, in which the photoelectric conversion layer contains a porous semiconductor, a carrier-transport material, and a photosensitizer, and in which an area of the orthogonal projection of the porous insulating layer onto the transparent substrate and an area of the orthogonal projection of the reflective layer onto the transparent substrate are each larger than an area of the orthogonal projection of the photoelectric conversion layer onto the transparent substrate.