Publications

Diffraction Grating Structures in Solar Cells

Zaidi, Saleem H.; Ruby, Douglas S.; Ruby, Douglas S.

Sub-wavelength periodic texturing (gratings) of crystalline-silicon (c-Si) surfaces for solar cell applications can be designed for maximizing optical absorption in thin c-Si films. We have investigated c-Si grating structures using rigorous modeling, hemispherical reflectance, and internal quantum efficiency measurements. Model calculations predict almost {approximately}100% energy coupling into obliquely propagating diffraction orders. By fabrication and optical characterization of a wide range of 1D & 2D c-Si grating structures, we have achieved broad-band, low ({approximately} 5%) reflectance without an anti-reflection film. By integrating grating structures into conventional solar cell designs, we have demonstrated short-circuit current density enhancements of 3.4 and 4.1 mA/cm{sup 2} for rectangular and triangular 1D grating structures compared to planar controls. The effective path length enhancements due to these gratings were 2.2 and 1.7, respectively. Optimized 2D gratings are expected to have even better performance.