The solar energy sector has recently witnessed two transformative innovations: a groundbreaking anti-reflective coating for silicon solar cells and a non-contact performance measurement method for back-contact solar cells, marking critical steps toward enhancing efficiency and scalability in global clean energy adoption.
Multilayer Nanophotonic Coating Slashes Energy Loss in Silicon Cells
A study published in Advanced Photonics Nexus by researchers collaborating with the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) has introduced a nanophotonic anti-reflective coating designed to mitigate reflection losses in silicon solar cells. Traditional coatings, limited by narrow wavelength ranges, previously allowed up to 50% of sunlight to bounce off cell surfaces.
The team developed a polycrystalline silicon nanostructured “metasurface” coating using forward/inverse design techniques and AI optimization. Operating across 500–1200 nm visible and near-infrared spectra, the coating achieves a record-low 2% reflectivity under direct sunlight and ~4.4% at oblique angles—outperforming single-layer designs. By surpassing wavelength constraints with minimal materials, it reduces reflection losses by 80% compared to conventional coatings, enhancing mainstream panel efficiency by 2–3 percentage points.
This breakthrough promises scalable high-efficiency panel production, accelerating global clean energy transitions. It also opens pathways for multifunctional photonic coatings in optics, advancing applications in imaging, sensors, and display technologies.
Non-Contact Measurement System Boosts Next-Gen Solar Cell Production
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has unveiled a non-contact power measurement method for back-contact solar cells, enabling in-line performance evaluation without physical contact. This approach eliminates mechanical damage risks for ultrathin cells, reduces measurement time by 90%, and slashes maintenance costs by 70% compared to traditional contact-based methods.
The system, first tested in 2022, leverages photoluminescence, contactless electroluminescence imaging, and spectral reflectometry, paired with machine learning models to derive cell performance metrics. Tailored for single-side metallized cells like interdigitated back contact (IBC) and perovskite-silicon tandem architectures—key technologies in China’s burgeoning next-gen solar market—it processes over 10,000 wafers per hour, supporting ultra-thin cell manufacturing (≤100 μm).
Validation trials on 150 IBC cells with varying efficiencies demonstrated 98% correlation with contact-based measurements. Funded by Germany’s “NextTec” program and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, the technology is projected to cut new production line costs by 30% and boost annual global manufacturing capacity by 15 GW by 2027.
