Semi-Transparent Solar Cell enabled by Frequency Selective Light Trapping

We propose a frequency selective light trapping scheme that enables the creation of more visually-transparent and yet simultaneously more efficient semitransparent solar cells. A nanoparticle scattering layer and photonic stack back reflector create a selective trapping effect by total internal reflection within a medium, increasing absorption of IR light. We propose a strong frequency selective scattering layer using spherical TiO2 nanoparticles with radius of 255 nm and area density of 1.1 of 1.5. Using detailed numerical simulations for this configuration, we find that it is possible to create a semitransparent silicon solar cell that has a Shockley Queisser efficiency of 12.0 60.2 the same efficiency.