title: Substrate-modified scattering properties of silicon nanostructures for solar energy applications.
abstract: Enhanced light trapping is an attractive technique for improving the efficiency of thin film silicon solar cells. In this paper, we use FDTD simulations to study the scattering properties of silicon nanostructures on a silicon substrate and their application as enhanced light trappers. We find that the scattered spectrum and angular scattering distribution strongly depend on the excitation direction, that is, from air to substrate or from substrate to air. At the dipole resonance wavelength the scattering angles tend to be very narrow compared to those of silicon nanostructures in the absence of a substrate. Based on these properties, we propose a new thin film silicon solar cell design incorporating silicon nanostructures on both the front and back surfaces for enhanced light trapping.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA. ntfofan@sandia.gov
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Fofang
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okandan
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Nielson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brener
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007909:Lenses; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon