Effective antireflection properties of porous silicon nanowires for photovoltaic applications

Adel Najar, Ahmad Ali Al-Jabr, Ahmed Ben Slimane, M. A. Alsunaidi, Tien Khee Ng, Boon S. Ooi, Rachid Sougrat, Dalaver H. Anjum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Porous silicon nanowires (PSiNWs) have been prepared by metal-assisted chemical etching method on the n-Si substrate. The presence of nano-pores with pore size ranging between 10-50nm in SiNWs was confirmed by electron tomography (ET) in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The PSiNWs give strong photoluminescence peak at red wavelength. Ultra-low reflectance of <5% span over wavelength 250 nm to 1050 nm has been measured. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has been employed to model the optical reflectance for both Si wafer and PSiNWs. Our calculation results are in agreement with the measured reflectance from nanowires length of 6 μm and 60% porosity. The low reflectance is attributed to the effective graded index of PSiNWs and enhancement of multiple optical scattering from the pores and nanowires. PSiNW structures with low surface reflectance can potentially serve as an antireflection layer for Si-based photovoltaic devices.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2013 Saudi International Electronics, Communications and Photonics Conference, SIECPC 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event2013 Saudi International Electronics, Communications and Photonics Conference, SIECPC 2013 - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Duration: Apr 27 2013Apr 30 2013

Publication series

Name2013 Saudi International Electronics, Communications and Photonics Conference, SIECPC 2013

Conference

Conference2013 Saudi International Electronics, Communications and Photonics Conference, SIECPC 2013
Country/TerritorySaudi Arabia
CityRiyadh
Period4/27/134/30/13

Keywords

  • FDTD
  • Porous silicon nanowires
  • metal electroless etching

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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