Application of plasmonic coloring for making building integrated PV modules comprising of green solar cells. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peharz, Gerhard; Berger, Karl; Kubicek, Bernhard; Aichinger, Martin; Grobbauer, Michael; Gratzer, Julia; Nemitz, Wolfgang; Großschädl, Bettina; Auer, Christine; Prietl, Christine; Waldhauser, Wolfgang; Eder, Gabriele C.
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 109(2017)
• Page Start: 542
• Page End: 550
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Building integrated photovoltaics (BiPV) -- Module -- Color -- c-Si -- Plasmonics; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: When dealing with building integrated photovoltaics aesthetical aspects have to be considered. In particular for façade integrated modules with crystalline Silicon (c-Si) solar cells alternative colors are demanded. In this paper an approach for tuning the color of standard c-Si solar cells is presented relying on plasmonic coloring. Metallic (Ag) nano-particles with a diameter of around 100 nm were created on the surface of standard c-Si solar cells. At those nano-particles plasmonic scattering at around 450 to 550 nm causes a color change from blue to green. The green color is resulting from plasmonic scattering and it is found to be insensitive to the angle of observation. A performance analysis of the c-Si cells before and after coating shows that the power of the cells is decreased by less than 10% when applying the plasmonic coating. A first test module comprising of plasmonic-green c-Si cells was carefully characterized and mounted at a test façade for building integrated modules in order to generate data in the targeted field of application. First results of the test module demonstrate that plasmonic coloring is a feasible approach to tune the color of standard c-Si solar cells for being applied in building integrated photovoltaics. Highlights: The color of standard c-Si solar cells can be effectively tuned by applying silver-nanoparticles. Plasmonic coloring of c-Si solar cells is not sensitive to the angle of observation. Power losses of green c-Si solar cells color tuned by plasmonics are found to be less than 10%. The application of silver-nanoparticles on c-Si cells did not negatively impact the module manufacturing process. First outdoor measurements demonstrate the feasibility of plasmonic color tuning for BiPV applications.