Demonstration of enhanced absorption in thin film Si solar cells with periodic microhemisphere hole arrays

This paper reports a study about how to enhance the performance of thin film Si solar cells. Periodic microhemisphere hole (PMHH) arrays with a period of 10 μm and a depth of ~4 μm were made on the glass wafers. We found that the PMHH arrays can trap light via testing the transmittance of glass with PMHH arrays. Comparing with the original cell, the thin film Si solar cell covered by this kind of PMHH arrays glass is different from the following two perspectives: the short-circuit current (Jsc) increased by 7.5% and the conversion efficiency (Eff) enhanced by 5.2%. The design based on light trapping scheme on the external of cell is feasible and worth promoting.