title: Design of nanostructured solar cells using coupled optical and electrical modeling.
abstract: Nanostructured light trapping has emerged as a promising route toward improved efficiency in solar cells. We use coupled optical and electrical modeling to guide optimization of such nanostructures. We study thin-film n-i-p a-Si:H devices and demonstrate that nanostructures can be tailored to minimize absorption in the doped a-Si:H, improving carrier collection efficiency. This suggests a method for device optimization in which optical design not only maximizes absorption, but also ensures resulting carriers are efficiently collected.
authors.affiliation: Thomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Deceglie
authors.forename: Vivian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: A Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alivisatos
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Atwater
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055096:Optical Devices; D010316:Particle Size; D012993:Solar Energy