Manipulation of absorption in Si thin films with ordered nanostructures

Silicon thin film solar cells have attracted an increasing attention because of the potential to provide clean energy at relatively low cost. Currently, their performances are limited by poor light absorption and low efficiency carrier collection. In this research with a goal to enhance the light absorption, integration with metallic surface nanostructures to thin film silicon solar cells was investigated. Large, broadband, and polarization-insensitive light absorption enhancement was verified. The enhancement was explained by a few possible mechanisms such as the planar cavity resonance, surface plasmonic resonance (SPR), planar waveguide coupling, etc. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)