Improved multicrystalline Si solar cells by light trapping from Al nanoparticle enhanced antireflection coating

Significant photocurrent enhancement of 0.4 mA/cm2 has been achieved for industrial textured multicrystalline silicon solar cells, due to the light trapping provided by aluminium nanoparticle enhanced antireflection coating. Aluminium nanoparticles support surface plasmon resonances, which can effectively scatter the light into the solar cells. By blue shifting the detrimental Fano resonances away from the important silicon absorption spectrum, aluminium nanoparticles can provide a broadband light absorption enhancement without a reduction at the short wavelengths. Combining the discovery with 75 nm silicon nitride antireflection coating, which can significantly enhance the absorption at the peak solar spectrum, we have achieved the strong broadband light absorption enhancement.