Experimental studies and limitations of the light trapping and optical losses in microcrystalline silicon solar cells

This Study addresses the potential of different approaches to improve the generated current in silicon thin-film solar cells and modules. Decreasing the carrier concentration in the front contact has proven to increase the quantum efficiency and the cell-current density significantly. Additionally, an optically improved ZnO/Ag back reflector and the optimized light incoupling by anti-reflection layers were studied. In this contribution, we show the potential of the different optical components and discuss combinations thereof in order to obtain a maximized cell-current density in silicon thin-film solar cells. Limitations Of the cell-current density are discussed with respect to theoretical calculations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.