Low-cost high-haze films based on ZnO nanorods for light scattering in thin c-Si solar cells

Abstract

Light scattering from ZnO nanorods (NR) is investigated, modeled, and applied to a solar cell. ZnO NR (120–1300 nm long, 280–60 nm large), grown by low-cost chemical bath deposition at 90 °C, exhibit diffused-to-total transmitted light as high as 70% and 30% in the 400 and 1000 nm wavelength range, respectively. Data and scattering simulation show that ZnO NR length plays a crucial role in light diffusion effect. A transparent ZnO NR film grown on glass and placed on top of a 1 μm thick c-Si solar cell is shown to enhance the light-current conversion efficiency for wavelengths longer than 600 nm.