A Digital Twin for Solar Cells: The Optics Part
Simulating Light: The Optical Core of Solar TAP’s Digital Twin
The Digital Twin of a solar cell is a virtual representation of a device that captures all relevant aspects. The Digital Twin allows for a reliable performance prediction and its inverse design. Studying the interaction of light with solar cells is an essential component of such a Digital Twin that requires advanced computational frameworks.
Solar TAP scientists from multiple Helmholtz Centers closely cooperate with colleagues from JCMwave to further advance our abilities to study the optical properties of solar cells and to channel these advancements into our Digital Twin.
We collaboratively developed novel techniques to efficiently describe radiatively coupled nanophotonic structures for broadband application objectives, like power conversion efficiency or color perception, design scattering structures in a highly efficient manner, and implement strategies for a resource efficient analysis. Our work contributes directly to the development of new modules of the finite-element solver JCMsuite, establishes this solver as a prime tool to study light management, and renders it an essential component to the Digital Twin of Solar TAP.
A Digital Twin of a solar cell is a virtual representation of a device that captures all relevant aspects. Copyright: Solar TAP
Project details
Key Achievements
We have established the finite-element-based solver JCMsuite as a prime tool to predict the optical properties of light scattering structures in terms of a T-matrix. When assembled into more complex assemblies, these scattering structures become key components for light management in solar cells and contribute directly to efficiency gains. Through the close cooperation between JCMwave and scientists from Solar TAP, the framework could be expanded to study resonances of photonic structures that emerge from multiple scattering. Furthermore we generated a pole expansion of T-matrices, which is the key to represent the optical properties at an arbitrary spectral resolution. Associated with these developments are further aspects, such as the efficient and correct interpolation of T-matrices and their storage. These contributions are integrated into our fully differential computational pipeline for a Digital Twin as well as the JCMsuite. Such a differential formulation is the key to optimize solar cells in the light of balancing multiple benefits.
Linking Science and Industry
The close collaboration and regular visits of Solar TAP scientists at JCMwave have enabled a deep understanding of the mutual interaction of the theoretical frameworks and numerical techniques developed by both partners. Through rapid iteration, we were able to establish a set of tools deeply rooted in the expertise of both teams.
Future Outlook
Together, Solar TAP and JCMwave will continue to develop tools that can be used in the design of multi-benefit PV devices within our Digital Twin. Simulating and inverse designing the color perception as needed for building integrated PV is a prime contribution.
Added Value
for the Industrial Partner
- The jointly formulated methods are incorporated in JCMsuite, increasing its utility and enabling the efficient treatment of a broadened application space.
- The integration of JCMsuite as a part of our Digital Twin fosters its wide-spread use by those partners using the Digital Twin.
- The tight connection to open source multiple scattering programs that use the T-matrices as an input, promotes JCMsuite as a prime tool for their computations.
for Research
- Determining T-matrices for non-trivial scattering geometries requires advanced numerical techniques such as those implemented in JCMsuite. Our researchers profit from the availability and the direct access to the program, into which tailor made modifications can be implemented.
- Within Solar TAP, JCMwave provides access to its solver that helps us to efficiently develop the Digital Twin. Lead scientists at JCMwave actively participate in the method development both regarding conceptualization and implementation
for Society
- Accelerated and application tailored design of multi-scattering multi-benefit light management structures.
- Development of software tools, in parts published open-source, that can be applied to many contemporary challenges of nanophotonic research.
- Efficient and sustainable use of computational resources that lower the energy consumption to perform simulations and with that our carbon footprint.
