Aluminium induced texturing of glass substrates with improved light management for thin film solar cells

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 147; pp. 276 - 280
• Main Authors: Lluscà, Marta, Urbain, Félix, Smirnov, Vladimir, Antony, Aldrin, Andreu, Jordi, Bertomeu, Joan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Aluminium induced texturing; Aluminum; Cèl·lules solars; Dispersió de la llum; Glass; Light scattering; Microcrystalline silicon; Pel·lícules fines; Photovoltaic cells; Silici; Silicon; Solar cells; Substrate texturing; Substrates; Surface layer; Texture; Thin films; Thin films; Solar cells; Substrate texturing; Microcrystalline silicon; Aluminium induced texturing
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2015.12.028

Aluminium induced texturing (AIT) method has been used to texture glass substrates to enhance photon absorption in microcrystalline thin film Si solar cells. In this process, a thin Al film is deposited on a glass substrate and a non-uniform redox reaction between the glass and the Al film occurs when they are annealed at high temperature. After etching the reaction products, the resultant glass surface presents a uniform and rough morphology. In this work, three different textures (σrms~85, ~95, ~125nm) have been achieved by tuning the dc sputtering power and over them and over smooth glass, pin microcrystalline silicon solar cells have been fabricated. The cells deposited over the textured substrates showed an efficiency improvement in comparison to the cells deposited over the smooth glass. The best result was given for the glass texture σrms~125nm that led to an average efficiency 2.1% higher than that given by the cell deposited on smooth glass. •Aluminium induced texturing method was used to texture glass substrates.•The resultant glass roughness can be tuned by varying the method parameters.•Microcrystalline Si solar cells were fabricated over the textured substrates.•The higher the roughness, the greater the short-circuit current and efficiency.