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Sun L, Chen Y, Sun M, Zheng Y. Organic Solar Cells: Physical Principle and Recent Advances. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202300006. [PMID: 36594570 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202300006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Organic solar cells (OSC) based on organic semiconductor materials that convert solar energy into electric energy have been constantly developing at present, and also an effective way to solve the energy crisis and reduce carbon emissions. In the past several decades, efforts have been made to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OSCs. During this period, a variety of structural and material forms of OSCs have evolved. Commercializing OSCs, extending their service life and exploring their future development are promising but challenging. In this review, we first briefly introduce the development of OSCs and then summarize and analyze the working principle, performance parameters, and structural features of OSCs. Finally, we highlight some breakthrough related to OSCs in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichun Sun
- School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, 157011, P. R. China
| | - Yichuan Chen
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R China
| | - Mengtao Sun
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R China
| | - Youjin Zheng
- School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, 157011, P. R. China
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Ali A, El-Mellouhi F, Mitra A, Aïssa B. Research Progress of Plasmonic Nanostructure-Enhanced Photovoltaic Solar Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:788. [PMID: 35269276 PMCID: PMC8912550 DOI: 10.3390/nano12050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Enhancement of the electromagnetic properties of metallic nanostructures constitute an extensive research field related to plasmonics. The latter term is derived from plasmons, which are quanta corresponding to longitudinal waves that are propagating in matter by the collective motion of electrons. Plasmonics are increasingly finding wide application in sensing, microscopy, optical communications, biophotonics, and light trapping enhancement for solar energy conversion. Although the plasmonics field has relatively a short history of development, it has led to substantial advancement in enhancing the absorption of the solar spectrum and charge carrier separation efficiency. Recently, huge developments have been made in understanding the basic parameters and mechanisms governing the application of plasmonics, including the effects of nanoparticles' size, arrangement, and geometry and how all these factors impact the dielectric field in the surrounding medium of the plasmons. This review article emphasizes recent developments, fundamentals, and fabrication techniques for plasmonic nanostructures while investigating their thermal effects and detailing light-trapping enhancement mechanisms. The mismatch effect of the front and back light grating for optimum light trapping is also discussed. Different arrangements of plasmonic nanostructures in photovoltaics for efficiency enhancement, plasmonics' limitations, and modeling performance are also deeply explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Ali
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (A.A.); (F.E.-M.)
| | - Fedwa El-Mellouhi
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (A.A.); (F.E.-M.)
| | - Anirban Mitra
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India;
| | - Brahim Aïssa
- Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar; (A.A.); (F.E.-M.)
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Banerjee S, Mandal S, Dhar S, Roy AB, Mukherjee N. Nanomirror-Embedded Back Reflector Layer (BRL) for Advanced Light Management in Thin Silicon Solar Cells. Ind Eng Chem Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b01719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sudarshana Banerjee
- Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
| | - Sourav Mandal
- Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
- Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Sukanta Dhar
- Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, National Institute of Technology Sikkim, Ravangla, South Sikkim 737139, India
| | - Arijit Bardhan Roy
- Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
| | - Nillohit Mukherjee
- Centre of Excellence for Green Energy and Sensor Systems, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
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Optimal-Enhanced Solar Cell Ultra-thinning with Broadband Nanophotonic Light Capture. iScience 2018; 3:238-254. [PMID: 30428324 PMCID: PMC6137392 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent trends in photovoltaics demand ever-thin solar cells to allow deployment in consumer-oriented products requiring low-cost and mechanically flexible devices. For this, nanophotonic elements in the wave-optics regime are highly promising, as they capture and trap light in the cells' absorber, enabling its thickness reduction while improving its efficiency. Here, novel wavelength-sized photonic structures were computationally optimized toward maximum broadband light absorption. Thin-film silicon cells were the test bed to determine the best performing parameters and study their optical effects. Pronounced photocurrent enhancements, up to 37%, 27%, and 48%, respectively, in ultra-thin (100- and 300-nm-thick) amorphous, and thin (1.5-μm) crystalline silicon cells are demonstrated with honeycomb arrays of semi-spheroidal dome or void-like elements patterned on the cells' front. Also importantly, key advantages in the electrical performance are anticipated, since the photonic nano/micro-nanostructures do not increase the cell roughness, therefore not contributing to recombination, which is a crucial drawback in state-of-the-art light-trapping approaches. Wave-optics allows broadband light trapping while minimizing solar cell thickness Photonic transparent electrodes can boost both optical and electrical performance Up to 48% efficiency enhancement is determined relative to conventional approaches Performance enhancement is demonstrated for a wide incidence angular range (0°–70°)
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Donie YJ, Smeets M, Egel A, Lentz F, Preinfalk JB, Mertens A, Smirnov V, Lemmer U, Bittkau K, Gomard G. Light trapping in thin film silicon solar cells via phase separated disordered nanopillars. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:6651-6659. [PMID: 29582026 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr00455b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we have improved the absorption properties of thin film solar cells by introducing light trapping reflectors deposited onto self-assembled nanostructures. The latter consist of a disordered array of nanopillars and are fabricated by polymer blend lithography. Their broadband light scattering properties are exploited to enhance the photocurrent density of thin film devices, here based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon active layers. We demonstrate that these light scattering nanopillars yield a short-circuit current density increase of +33%rel with respect to equivalent solar cells processed on a planar reflector. Moreover, we experimentally show that they outperform randomly textured substrates that are commonly used for achieving efficient light trapping. Complementary optical simulations are conducted on an accurate 3D model to analyze the superior light harvesting properties of the nanopillar array and to derive general design rules. Our approach allows one to easily tune the morphology of the self-assembled nanostructures, is up-scalable and operated at room temperature, and is applicable to other photovoltaic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidenekachew J Donie
- Light Technology Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engesserstr. 13, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Recent Advances of Plasmonic Organic Solar Cells: Photophysical Investigations. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:polym10020123. [PMID: 30966159 PMCID: PMC6414879 DOI: 10.3390/polym10020123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of metallic nanomaterials, such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag), has been extensively exploited to improve the optical absorption, the charge carrier transport, and the ultimate device performances in organic photovoltaic cells (OPV). With the incorporation of diverse metallic nanostructures in active layers, buffer layers, electrodes, or between adjacent layers of OPVs, multiple plasmonic mechanisms may occur and need to be distinguished to better understand plasmonic enhancement. Steady-state photophysics is a powerful tool for unraveling the plasmonic nature and revealing plasmonic mechanisms such as the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), the propagating plasmon-polariton (SPP), and the plasmon-gap mode. Furthermore, the charge transfer dynamics in the organic semiconductor materials can be elucidated from the transient photophysical investigations. In this review article, the basics of the plasmonic mechanisms and the related metallic nanostructures are briefly introduced. We then outline the recent advances of the plasmonic applications in OPVs emphasizing the linkage between the photophysical properties, the nanometallic geometries, and the photovoltaic performance of the OPV devices.
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Jang YH, Jang YJ, Kim S, Quan LN, Chung K, Kim DH. Plasmonic Solar Cells: From Rational Design to Mechanism Overview. Chem Rev 2016; 116:14982-15034. [PMID: 28027647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Plasmonic effects have been proposed as a solution to overcome the limited light absorption in thin-film photovoltaic devices, and various types of plasmonic solar cells have been developed. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art progress on the design and fabrication of plasmonic solar cells and their enhancement mechanism. The working principle is first addressed in terms of the combined effects of plasmon decay, scattering, near-field enhancement, and plasmonic energy transfer, including direct hot electron transfer and resonant energy transfer. Then, we summarize recent developments for various types of plasmonic solar cells based on silicon, dye-sensitized, organic photovoltaic, and other types of solar cells, including quantum dot and perovskite variants. We also address several issues regarding the limitations of plasmonic nanostructures, including their electrical, chemical, and physical stability, charge recombination, narrowband absorption, and high cost. Next, we propose a few potentially useful approaches that can improve the performance of plasmonic cells, such as the inclusion of graphene plasmonics, plasmon-upconversion coupling, and coupling between fluorescence resonance energy transfer and plasmon resonance energy transfer. This review is concluded with remarks on future prospects for plasmonic solar cell use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Hee Jang
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Jang
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokhyoung Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Li Na Quan
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungwha Chung
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ha Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, School of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University , 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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Experimental quantification of useful and parasitic absorption of light in plasmon-enhanced thin silicon films for solar cells application. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22481. [PMID: 26935322 PMCID: PMC4776151 DOI: 10.1038/srep22481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A combination of photocurrent and photothermal spectroscopic techniques is applied to experimentally quantify the useful and parasitic absorption of light in thin hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) films incorporating optimized metal nanoparticle arrays, located at the rear surface, for improved light trapping via resonant plasmonic scattering. The photothermal technique accounts for the total absorptance and the photocurrent signal accounts only for the photons absorbed in the μc-Si:H layer (useful absorptance); therefore, the method allows for independent quantification of the useful and parasitic absorptance of the plasmonic (or any other) light trapping structure. We demonstrate that with a 0.9 μm thick absorber layer the optical losses related to the plasmonic light trapping in the whole structure are insignificant below 730 nm, above which they increase rapidly with increasing illumination wavelength. An average useful absorption of 43% and an average parasitic absorption of 19% over 400–1100 nm wavelength range is measured for μc-Si:H films deposited on optimized self-assembled Ag nanoparticles coupled with a flat mirror (plasmonic back reflector). For this sample, we demonstrate a significant broadband enhancement of the useful absorption resulting in the achievement of 91% of the maximum theoretical Lambertian limit of absorption.
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Fan W, Leung MKH. Recent Development of Plasmonic Resonance-Based Photocatalysis and Photovoltaics for Solar Utilization. Molecules 2016; 21:E180. [PMID: 26848648 PMCID: PMC6274351 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing utilization of solar energy is an effective strategy to tackle our energy and energy-related environmental issues. Both solar photocatalysis (PC) and solar photovoltaics (PV) have high potential to develop technologies of many practical applications. Substantial research efforts are devoted to enhancing visible light activation of the photoelectrocatalytic reactions by various modifications of nanostructured semiconductors. This review paper emphasizes the recent advancement in material modifications by means of the promising localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) mechanisms. The principles of LSPR and its effects on the photonic efficiency of PV and PC are discussed here. Many research findings reveal the promise of Au and Ag plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs). Continual investigation for increasing the stability of the plasmonic NPs will be fruitful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenguang Fan
- Ability R & D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Michael K H Leung
- Ability R & D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
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Singh CR, Honold T, Gujar TP, Retsch M, Fery A, Karg M, Thelakkat M. The role of colloidal plasmonic nanostructures in organic solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:23155-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cp04451d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A colloidal self-assembly concept is introduced for the fabrication of optically homogenous monolayers of plasmonic Au-nanoparticles in organic solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. R. Singh
- Applied Functional Polymers
- Macromolecular Chemistry I
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - T. Honold
- Department of Physical Chemistry 1
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - T. P. Gujar
- Applied Functional Polymers
- Macromolecular Chemistry I
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - M. Retsch
- Jr. Prof. for Polymer Systems
- Physical Chemistry 1
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - A. Fery
- Department of Physical Chemistry 1
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - M. Karg
- Department of Physical Chemistry 1
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
| | - M. Thelakkat
- Applied Functional Polymers
- Macromolecular Chemistry I
- University of Bayreuth
- 95447 Bayreuth
- Germany
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Mendes MJ, Morawiec S, Mateus T, Lyubchyk A, Águas H, Ferreira I, Fortunato E, Martins R, Priolo F, Crupi I. Broadband light trapping in thin film solar cells with self-organized plasmonic nano-colloids. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 26:135202. [PMID: 25760231 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/13/135202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The intense light scattered from metal nanoparticles sustaining surface plasmons makes them attractive for light trapping in photovoltaic applications. However, a strong resonant response from nanoparticle ensembles can only be obtained if the particles have monodisperse physical properties. Presently, the chemical synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles is the method that produces the highest monodispersion in geometry and material quality, with the added benefits of being low-temperature, low-cost, easily scalable and of allowing control of the surface coverage of the deposited particles. In this paper, novel plasmonic back-reflector structures were developed using spherical gold colloids with appropriate dimensions for pronounced far-field scattering. The plasmonic back reflectors are incorporated in the rear contact of thin film n-i-p nanocrystalline silicon solar cells to boost their photocurrent generation via optical path length enhancement inside the silicon layer. The quantum efficiency spectra of the devices revealed a remarkable broadband enhancement, resulting from both light scattering from the metal nanoparticles and improved light incoupling caused by the hemispherical corrugations at the cells' front surface formed from the deposition of material over the spherically shaped colloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel J Mendes
- CENIMAT/I3N, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, and CEMOP/UNINOVA, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. MATIS IMM-CNR, via S. Sofia 64, I-95123 Catania, Italy
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Bontempi N, Salmistraro M, Ferroni M, Depero LE, Alessandri I. Probing the spatial extension of light trapping-induced enhanced Raman scattering in high-density Si nanowire arrays. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 25:465705. [PMID: 25360576 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/465705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports an experimental investigation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering in high-density Si nanowire arrays obtained by electroless etching. A direct relationship between light trapping capabilities of Si nanowires and enhanced Raman scattering was demonstrated. Optimized arrays allowed for a remarkable increase of Raman sensitivity in comparison to reference planar samples. As a result, the detection limit of molecular probes under resonant excitation (e.g. methylene blue) can be extended by three orders of magnitude. In addition, continuous ultrathin films, that cannot be analyzed in conventional Raman experiments, are made detectable. In the case of anatase thin films, the detection limit of 5 nm was reached. Raman spectra of Si/TiO₂ core/shell heterostructures demonstrate that the enhanced field resulting from surface multiple scattering is characterized by a large spatial extension (about fifty nanometers), making these materials a potential alternative to plasmonic metals for SERS experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
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Cho SJ, An T, Lim G. Three-dimensionally designed anti-reflective silicon surfaces for perfect absorption of light. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:15710-3. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc07341j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We successfully demonstrate a novel three-dimensionally designed (3D) silicon structure, which has the most advanced property than the previous anti-reflective materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong J. Cho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
- Pohang, Republic of Korea
- Polymer Research Institute
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
| | - Taechang An
- Department of Mechanical Design Engineering
- Andong National University
- Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Geunbae Lim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
- Pohang, Republic of Korea
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