Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate a light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell. Silver nanopillar arrays on indium tin oxide layer of the a-Si thin-film solar cells were designed.
Design/methodology/approach
The effects of the geometrical parameters such as nanopillar radius (R) and array period (P) were investigated by using the finite element simulation.
Findings
The optimization results show that the absorption of the solar cell with Ag nanopillar structure and anti-reflection film is enhanced up to 29.5 per cent under AM1.5 illumination in the 300- to 800-nm wavelength range compared with the reference cell. Furthermore, physical mechanisms of absorption enhancement at different wavelength range are discussed according to the electrical field amplitude distributions in the solar cells.
Research limitations/implications
The research is still in progress. Further studies mainly focus on the performance of solar cells with different nanograting materials.
Practical implications
This study provides a feasible method for light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for a-Si thin-film solar cell.
Originality/value
This study is promising for the design of a-Si thin-film solar cells with enhanced performance.
Combined front and back diffraction gratings for broad band light trapping in thin film solar cell