Disordered submicron structures integrated on glass substrate for broadband absorption enhancement of thin-film solar cells

Abstract

We report the effect of antireflective disordered submicron structures (d-SMSs) on glass substrates for the absorption enhancement of thin-film solar cells. The shape and height of d-SMSs were designed on the basis of the calculation result from the rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) method. The d-SMSs with tapered shape were fabricated on the back side of SnO2:F covered glass substrate by plasma etching of thermally dewetted silver (Ag) nanoparticles without any lithography processes. The glass substrates with d-SMSs showed very low reflectance compared to that of the glass substrates with flat surface over a wide specular and angular range. Thin-film hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells were prepared on the opposite side of d-SMSs integrated glass substrates, and the devices exhibited a short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of 6.84% increased value compared to the reference cells with flat surface without detrimental changes in the open circuit voltages (V-oc) and fill factor. Also, it is found that the performance of the solar cells is sustained over a wide incident angle of light. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.