Anti-reflective Coating for High-Efficiency Solar Cells

ABSTRACT: This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to further develop an AR coating on high efficiency PV device surface that can enable a reflection loss < 3% over the wavelength range from 300 nm to 1800 nm. The proposed effort will optimize the coating design and the coating process of the broadband AR coating so that it can be integrated into PV cell products. Standard tests will be performed to ensure the coatings performance. PV devices with broadband AR coatings will be characterized, and compared with PV devices with traditional AR coatings. This Phase IIs effort will focus on the integration and space-qualification of broadband AR coatings onto high-efficiency solar cells for space applications. BENEFIT: The anticipated benefits of developing this technology include achieving record-level solar cell efficiency directly beneficial to satellite and space missions as well as contributing to our green energy initiative and our energy independence. Additionally, these coatings can be applied to numerous optical windows and sensors that require broadband AR coatings.