title: Optical waveguide enhanced photovoltaics.
abstract: Enhanced light to electric power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells with a low absorbance was achieved using waveguide integration. We present a proof of concept using a very thin dye-sensitized solar cell which absorbed only a small fraction of the light at normal incidence. The glass substrate in conjunction with the solar cells reflecting back contact formed a planar waveguide, which lead to more than four times higher conversion efficiency compared to conventional illumination at normal incidence. This illumination concept leads to a new type of multi-junction PV systems based on enforced spectral splitting along the waveguide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 52900, Israel. ruhles@mail.biu.ac.il
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rühle
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaban