Effect of surface texturing processes on the performance of crystalline silicon solar cell

Two texturing methods using porous silicon (PS) and pyramids were performed to investigate the effect of them on the performance of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell. Surface morphology and structural properties of samples have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic forces microscopy (AFM). Optical reflectance was obtained using optical reflectometer. I-V characterization of fabricated solar cells was investigated. The results showed the highest conversion efficiency of 13.23% for PS layer compared with 11.36% and 3.70% efficiencies for the solar cells devices with pyramids texturing and as-grown Si, respectively. PS texturing exhibited an excellent reduction in the reflection of incident light compared with pyramids texturing process, with a good light-trapping of wide wavelength spectrum, which could produce high efficiency solar cells. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.