Ultrathin silicon solar microcells for semitransparent, mechanically flexible andmicroconcentrator module designs

Jongseung Yoon, Alfred J. Baca, Sang Il Park, Paulius Elvikis, Joseph B. Geddes, Lanfang Li, Rak Hwan Kim, Jianliang Xiao, Shuodao Wang, Tae Ho Kim, Michael J. Motala, Bok Yeop Ahn, Eric B. Duoss, Jennifer A. Lewis, Ralph G. Nuzzo, Placid M. Ferreira, Yonggang Huang, Angus Rockett, John A. Rogers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The high natural abundance of silicon, together with its excellent reliability and good efficiency in solar cells, suggest its continued use in production of solar energy, on massive scales, for the foreseeable future. Although organics, nanocrystals, nanowires and other new materials hold significant promise, many opportunities continue to exist for research into unconventional means of exploiting silicon in advanced photovoltaic systems.Here, we describemodules that use large-scale arrays of silicon solar microcells created from bulk wafers and integrated in diverse spatial layouts on foreign substrates by transfer printing. The resulting devices can offer useful features, including high degrees of mechanical flexibility, user-definable transparency and ultrathin-form-factor microconcentrator designs. Detailed studies of the processes for creating and manipulating such microcells, together with theoretical and experimental investigations of the electrical, mechanical and optical characteristics of several types ofmodule that incorporate them, illuminate the key aspects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMaterials for Sustainable Energy
Subtitle of host publicationA Collection of Peer-Reviewed Research and Review Articles from Nature Publishing Group
PublisherWorld Scientific Publishing Co.
Pages38-46
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9789814317665
ISBN (Print)9814317640, 9789814317641
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Energy
  • General Engineering
  • General Materials Science

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