Modelling of the Durability of 𝑺𝒊𝑶₂ Anti-Reflection Coating on GaAs Solar Cell with Comsol 5.6

This study presents the effect of long-term outdoor exposure on silicon dioxide (𝑆𝑖𝑂₂) antireflection coating (ARC) surface of GaAs solar cell under simulated outdoor conditions. The work was carried out in COMSOL Multi-physics where the effects of principal and Von Mises stress as well as the strain deformation on reflectance, transmittance, and absorption followed by efficiency degradation were analysed. The results indicated that, the Von Mises stress revealed higher stress of 0.013 𝐺𝑃𝑎 in the cell with 𝑆𝑖𝑂₂ ARC which deform the surface to 14.8% while the cell without coating experience 0.004 𝐺𝑃𝑎 and deform the surface to 16.7%. Optical performance after the 40 years exposure showed total reflectance, transmittance, and absorption of 26.5%, 73.2%, and 0.003% for the cell with 𝑆𝑖𝑂₂, and 73.5%, 26.4%, and 2.9 × 10−12% for the cell without ARC respectively. The efficiency of the cell with 𝑆𝑖𝑂₂ ARC degraded from 32.9% to 8.7%, while the cell without ARC declined from 19.2% to 2% over the same period. However, the efficiency of the cell with ARC dropped to the initial level of the bare cell after 25 years of outdoor exposure which indicated the lifespan of the 𝑆𝑖𝑂₂ ARC at a thickness of 80nm. These outcomes provide valuable insights in coating design that will help to achieved high efficiency and long-lifespan solar cells for deployment in extreme terrestrial climates and space locations.