I am working on upconversion(UP) nano materials fabrications. Thus interested to know the influence on efficiency when this UC layer is coupled to a solar cell. Since it has to attached on back side of it.
I would like to ask whether the standard amorphous silicon solar cell with transparent back contact is available commercially or has to be fabricate in laboratory.
Hi Pratik,
Upconversion materials are easy to prepare but conversion of two low energy photons to obtain one high energy photon is tricky. Also, the rare earths like Er3+, Yb3+ which plays important role in sensitization of other rare earths to emit in visible region, has inherent drawbacks. Since these rare earths ions has forbidden transitions therefore it has weak absorption in NIR region. But for c-Si or a-Si solar cell, your material should have broad absorption in the NIR region and emission in visible region.
Regarding transparent back contact, Commercially, PET based polyester film is used as backsheet which has its own advantage. This backsheet with EVA and front surface glass is then laminated to protect the cell from moisture.
Hello Rupesh,
I am glad to know you are working on solar cell field. Thanks for your descriptive answer.
Dear Pratk,
You need to add your UC layer at the back side of the thin film amorphous solar cells.
The commertial amorphous silicon solar cells has normally the following layer stack from front to back:
Glass superstarte/ Transparent oxide such as SnO2/ P+ a-Si/ intrinsic a-Si/ N+ a-Si/ back metal electrode/ encapsulation plastic film.
So, if you could not get solar cells without metal and encapsulation layers you can remove such layers by etching and deposit you UC layer. You have also to the metal layer to bounce the light beck to the above lying active layer.
For more information please refer to the link:file:///C:/Users/mac/Downloads/nanomaterials-05-01782.pdf
Best wishes
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