3D‐Printing for Solar Cells

This chapter discusses the current promising developments in 3D‐printing for photovoltaic (PV) structures, from interconnects to novel perovskite layer deposition. It demonstrates the current research activity and shows possible future possibilities. The chapter describes how a light management system for solar cells using a light trap was investigated using 3D‐printing. Internal light trapping schemes, like improve the absorption, but at the same time deteriorate the electrical properties of the solar cell by inducing additional bulk and surface recombination centers. An external light trap is of interest for all solar cell technologies, because the light trap is placed as an add‐on on top of the cell and retroreflects the light that is reflected as well as the light that is radiatively emitted by the solar cell. The top of the external light trap is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). CPCs are generally applied for concentrated PVs and solar thermal applications.