Design of a plasmonic back reflector for silicon nanowire decorated solar cells

Abstract

This Letter presents a crystalline silicon thin film solar cell model with Si nanowire arrays surface decoration and metallic nanostructure patterns on the back reflector. The nanostructured Ag back reflector can significantly enhance the absorption in the near-infrared spectrum. Furthermore, by inserting a ZnO:Al layer between the silicon substrate and nanostructured Ag back reflector, the absorption loss in the Ag back reflector can be clearly depressed, contributing to a maximum $J_{\mathrm{sc}}$ of $28.4\mathrm{mA}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$. A photocurrent enhancement of 22% is achieved compared with a SiNW solar cell with a planar Ag back reflector.

© 2012 Optical Society of America