Abstract
Diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) has become a promising thin film for many fields of applications due to its unique and tunable properties. However, low optical bandgap and thermal stability limits its application in many fields particularly as antireflection coating on solar cell. In the present study, the DLN thin film has been deposited using a mixed liquid precursor by rf-PECVD process. Surprisingly the presence of nc-C-60 in FCC structure in DLN matrix has been observed. The degree of crystallinity and diameter of C-60 have been increased significantly after annealed at 850 degrees C. The film has been annealed at 850 degrees C to primarily investigate its feasibility as antireflection coating (ARC) in compatible with industrial solar cell fabrication process. The refractive index and optical bandgap of the film were around 1.80 and 4.10 eV, respectively. Moreover, the optical bandgap has decreased to some extent to 3.92 eV even after annealing at such high temperature. The high SiOx at% and embedded nc-C-60 enhanced the optical transparency and thermal stability of the DLN film. The solar-weighted average reflection of DLN-coated textured silicon was reduced significantly to 1.91%. The C-60 embedded DLN film has a great potential to apply in different optoelectronic devices especially in solar cell as ARC.