Modeling of Antireflective Gradient Coatings for Solar Cells

Abstract

A computer simulation of antireflective gradient coatings for a transparent substrate of a photovoltaic battery and a silicon solar cell has been performed. The simulation results have shown that porous and gradient porous films deposited on glass increase the relative efficiency of a silicon solar cell by 8.0%. The influence of precipitation on the antireflection effect of glass is considered. It has been shown that filling the entire pore volume with water does not influence the antireflection effect: the relative efficiency of the solar cell increases by 6.8%. If we assume that the pores are completely filled with soot, then the relative efficiency of the solar cell will decrease by 50%. A gradient antireflection coating based on a mixture of MgF₂–CaF₂ is of practical interest since it may increase the relative efficiency of the solar cell by 6.2%. The simulation has established that the short-circuit current density can be increased to 40.0 mA/cm² if a gradient antireflective coating based on a SiO₂–Si mixture is deposited on the surface of a silicon solar cell.