Publication Type : Journal Article
Thematic Areas : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine
Publisher : Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Source : Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Volume 111, p.9-15 (2013)
Keywords : Anti reflective coatings, Coated glass, Coatings, Cost-effective solutions, Cost-efficient, Electrospinning, Electrospinning process, Electrospinning setups, Fabrication technique, Film morphology, Glass, Glass coating, Glass substrates, Large-area glass substrate, Large-area substrates, Optical properties, Photovoltaic applications, Photovoltaics, Porous SiO, Simple approach, Sintering, Solar module, Sub-wavelength, Substrates
Campus : Kochi
School : Center for Nanosciences
Center : Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Move, Nanosciences
Department : Nanosciences
Verified : Yes
Year : 2013
Abstract : Fabrication of large-area anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) on glass substrates by using a cost-efficient and simple approach, especially for applications in photovoltaics, remains a challenge. This study proposes electrospinning as a technique to fabricate porous SiO2 ARCs on large-area glass substrates (20×20 cm2). The existing electrospinning setup is modified to enable large-area glass coatings and electrospinning process parameters are optimized to achieve sub-wavelength ARCs. The post-sintered SiO2 ARC is thoroughly characterized for the film morphology and optical properties. The transmittance for one-side and both-sides coated glass is found to be 94.3% and 96% respectively. The anti-reflective glass is incorporated in solar modules to determine the increase in short circuit current. The increase in short-circuit current is found to be 3%. Electrospinning as a fabrication technique has potential in offering a cost effective solution for synthesizing ARCs on large-area substrates for photovoltaic applications. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Cite this Research Publication : H. K. Raut, A. S. Nair, Dinachali, S. S., Ganesh, V. A., Walsh, T. M., and Ramakrishna, S., “Porous SiO2 anti-reflective coatings on large-area substrates by electrospinning and their application to solar modules”, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 111, pp. 9-15, 2013.