Silicon Nanowire-Based Solar Cells on Glass: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Cell Parameters

Abstract
Silicon nanowire (SiNW)-based solar cells on glass substrates have been fabricated by wet electroless chemical etching (using silver nitrate and hydrofluoric acid) of 2.7 μm multicrystalline p+nn+ doped silicon layers thereby creating the nanowire structure. Low reflectance (90% at 500 nm) have been measured. The highest open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc) for AM1.5 illumination were 450 mV and 40 mA/cm2, respectively at a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.4%.