Topology optimization for improving the performance of solar cells

This work introduces the application of Topology Optimization (TO) to design optimal front metallization patterns for solar cells and increase their power output. A challenging aspect of the solar cell electrode design problem is the strong nonlinear relation between the active layer current and the electrical potential. The power output of a solar cell depends on the connected electrical load (voltage). Thus, this voltage is also considered to be an additional design variable in TO. The greatly enlarged design freedom of TO versus conventional shape optimization allows novel and more efficient electrode patterns. Our results show that TO tends to adapt the voltage distribution on the front surface in a way that maximum possible current flows across the solar cell. The results show that the designs obtained from TO use only a small amount of electrode material (a few percent of the surface area), which leads to further reduction in cost per kWh of output power. We also investigate the possibilities of using TO to optimize the rear electrode pattern of solar cells. Cop. 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London.