Title :
22.7% efficient silicon photovoltaic modules with textured front surface
Author :
Zhao, Jianhua ; Wang, Aihua ; Campbell, Patrick ; Green, Martin A.
Author_Institution :
Photovoltaics Special Res. Centre, Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
fDate :
7/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
This paper reports the highest ever independently confirmed efficiency for a photovoltaic module as demonstrated by two 778-cm2 silicon solar cell modules of 22.7% efficiency. A key feature of these modules was the use of a pyramidally textured top module surface to reduce reflection from this surface as well as from the underlying cell surface, by trapping light within the top cover sheet. Higher current density and higher energy conversion efficiency for such a textured module are theoretically predicted and experimentally measured compared to a standard module with a planar front surface. This advantage becomes more significant for obliquely incident light
Keywords :
antireflection coatings; current density; elemental semiconductors; silicon; solar cells; 22.7 percent; Si; current density; efficiency; energy conversion efficiency; obliquely incident light; photovoltaic modules; pyramidally textured top module surface; solar cell modules; textured front surface; top cover sheet; Current density; Current measurement; Density measurement; Energy conversion; Optical reflection; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Silicon; Solar power generation; Surface texture;
Journal_Title :
Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on
