Abstract
Recently developed classes of monocrystalline silicon solar microcells (μ-cell) can be assembled into modules with characteristics (i.e., mechanically flexible forms, compact concentrator designs, and high-voltage outputs) that would be impossible to achieve using conventional, wafer-based approaches. In this paper, we describe a highly dense, uniform and non-periodic nanocone forest structure of black silicon (bSi) created on optically-thin (30 μm) μ-cells for broadband and omnidirectional light-trapping with a lithography-free and high-throughput plasma texturizing process. With optimized plasma etching conditions and a silicon nitride passivation layer, black silicon μ-cells, when embedded in a polymer waveguiding layer, display dramatic increases of as much as 65.7% in short circuit current, as compared to a bare silicon device. The conversion efficiency increases from 8.1% to 11.5% with a small drop in open circuit voltage and fill factor.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Article number | 305301 |
Journal | Nanotechnology |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 30 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- black silicon
- light trapping
- photovoltaics
- solar microcell
- thin film
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Chemistry(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science(all)