Enhanced performance of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well solar cells with patterned sapphire substrate

In this paper, the enhanced performance of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well solar cells grown on patterned sapphire substrates (PSS) was demonstrated. The short-circuit current (J_sc) density of the solar cell grown on PSS showed an improvement of 60%, compared to that of solar cells grown on conventional sapphire substrate. The improved performance is primarily due to the reduction of edge dislocations and the increased light absorption path by the scattering from the textured surface of the PSS. It shows that the patterned sapphire technology can effectively alleviate the problem of high-density dislocations and low J_sc caused by thinner absorption layers of the InGaN based solar cell, and it is promising to improve the efficiency of the solar cell.