Abstract
The optimized nanospheres (NSs) are simulated and then employed as light-harvesting nanostructures on Si solar cells (SCs). Uniformly distributed monolayers of NSs effectively suppress the reflection over the broadband region at the incident angles up to 85°, greatly improving the optical absorption of the SCs. The calculation results indicating significant reflection elimination and strong forward scattering agree with those obtained by experimental measurements, where the devices with NSs exhibit improved external quantum efficiencies by 13% at 800nm and conversion efficiency by 21.6%. This simple, controllable and scalable fabrication of broadband and omnidirectional light-harvesting nanostructures is desired from the standpoint of practical applicability in SCs.
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•A colloidal monolayer of nanospheres(NSs)employed as the light-harvesting layer.•Suppressing the surface reflection and enhancing forward scattering.•Increased external quantum efficiency peak at 800nm by13% and conversion efficiency by 21.6%.