To improve the performance of solar energy converters and its implementation as a more sustainable electricity source worldwide, researchers have been trying to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices while lowering their costs. Conversion efficiency of solar cells can be enhanced through light trapping structures and concentration of incoming light. Light trapping is usually realized by texturization of the solar cell’s surfaces, while concentration is achieved by addition of external apparatus, such as reflectors. A novel design for silicon solar cells is proposed in this thesis, which contains hemispherical dish microconcentrators for light trapping purposes. Through a process flow that includes maskless photolithography, thermal reflow, and metallization via sputtering, the microconcentrators were fabricated and demonstrated to have good concentration properties. Further studies need to be done for optimization of the hemispherical structures, as well as successfully perform the proposed upconverting photolithography for auto-aligned exposure of the photoresist at the microconcentrator’s focus, thus allowing a complete solar cell to be created based on this design. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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