Microstructured design of metallic diffraction gratings for light trapping in thin-film silicon solar cells

Abstract

In thin-film silicon solar cells, a flexible optical design for light collection is developed that can enhance the optical path length in absorber layer. In this paper, we demonstrate the rectangular, trapezoidal and triangular metallic diffraction gratings as back reflectors. The potential of the structures in the solar cells is investigated by means of numerical simulations, i.e., the Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis enhanced by the Modal Transmission Line theory. The results show that the 0-order reflection can be suppressed and the energy can be transferred to high diffraction orders by metallic diffraction gratings, especially the triangular metallic diffraction gratings.