Design and optimization of silicon nanostructures

In this work, recent advances in various silicon nanostructures used in crystalline silicon solar cells for antireflection and light trapping are reviewed. Simulations and optimizations are also performed for the most relevant of these nanostructures. The results showed that nanocones and nanoparaboloids outperform nanopillars and give almost the same antireflective performance, reducing the average reflectance of the crystalline silicon surface below 2% in the wavelength range 300-1100 nm and under normal incidence. This reflectance is also found to stay below 4% for angles of incidence lower than 60° and for the averaged s and p light polarization. As a result, short-circuit current densities of 41.62 and 41.96 mA/cm², can be expected for a silicon solar cell decorated with these two nanostructures, respectively. Finally, we described the formation of silicon nanocones via nanowires by metal assisted chemical etching.