Silicon remains as the main material used in solar cell production, because of its low cost, abundance in nature and well-established technologies. However, its surface reflects considerable part of light due to its high refraction index. Light harvesting pays an important role for further progress to high-efficient solar cells. Texturing of the substrate surface is an efficient method to enhance the light absorption leading to the higher solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency in crystalline silicon solar cells. We present the novel method for silicon surface texturing using the direct laser beam interference ablation in addition with selective chemical etching. This technique enables production of high aspect ratio structures on a large surface area with just a single laser exposure. Characterization of the laser textured surfaces was performed using SEM. Theoretical simulation of light interaction with such structures was conducted in parallel and was used to adjust the laser process for more efficient light harvesting.

Date Published: 8 October 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9180, Laser Processing and Fabrication for Solar, Displays, and Optoelectronic Devices III, 918009 (8 October 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2061406

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9180:
Laser Processing and Fabrication for Solar, Displays, and Optoelectronic Devices III
Edward W. Reutzel, Editor(s)