Light localization at randomly textured surfaces for solar-cell applications

By using a rigorous diffraction theory, the localization of light near textured zinc oxide (ZnO) surfaces is theoretically investigated and compared with experimental data obtained from scanning-near-field-optical microscopy. Although random by nature, these surfaces show well-defined geometrical features, which cause the formation of localized light patterns near the surface. Particularly, photon jets are observed to emerge from conical surface structures. Because these structures are of primary importance for applications in photovoltaics, we analyze the real surface topography of textured ZnO used in silicon solar cells. With this work, valuable insight is provided into the mechanism of light coupling through randomly textured interfaces. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.