Prismatic bioinspired compound lenses for solar cells

Francesco Chiadini, Vincenzo Fiumara, Antonio Scaglione, Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A silicon prismatic lens, whose shape is inspired by the apposition compound eyes of some dipterans, was investigated to improve the light-harvesting capability of silicon solar cells. The bioinspired compound lens (BCL) has a fractal construction procedure in which the cross-section of the lens is a frustum of a infinitely long circular cylinder at the zeroth-stage, and is decorated with sections of smaller cylinders at higher stages of construction. We found that the light-coupling efficiency of the best performing first-stage BCL cannot be enhanced by higher-order stages and is significantly superior to other kinds of textured surfaces. By coating the lens with a double layer anti-reflection coating further enhancement of efficiency can be obtained. Our strategy can also be adopted for solar cells not made of silicon.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 7 2011Mar 9 2011

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7975
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period3/7/113/9/11

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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