Vivid-colored silicon solar panels with high efficiency and non-iridescent appearance

Abstract

We present a novel approach towards fabricating bright-colored solar cells with excellent angular insensitivity while preserving high efficiency by topping a crystalline silicon solar panel with a trans-reflective color filtering device. The 5-layered filter exhibits a distinctive narrowband reflection, producing vivid colors (∼60% peak reflection) with an angle-invariant appearance up to ±60°. Simultaneously, it transmits the remaining broadband light spanning the whole solar spectrum onto the silicon solar panel underneath, leading to an overall high power conversion efficiency of decorative solar cells. This facile method with few layers can be used to decorate other types of solar panels for better building integration and simultaneously protect the active devices from environmental degradation. In addition, it can be easily replaced when the colored structures are damaged or a different color is desired, thus holding great potential for future building-integrated photovoltaics and automotive applications.