Ultra thin film nanostructured solar cell

These light trapping solar cell structures increase optical absorption and carrier collection, improving efficiency by 24%, while significantly reducing the solar cell active layer thickness and thus lowering cost. Conventional solar cell thickness is a balancing act between increased optical absorption (thick layers) and increased carrier density (thin layers). The solar cell nano-structures developed by Stanford achieves high light absorption in a thin structure - providing optical and electrical confinement in the active region.

Example of GaAs solar cell (active region) on Polydimethylsiloxane substrate