Improved performance of a crystalline silicon solar cell based on ZnO/PS anti-reflection coating layers

► PS layer prepared by photoelectrochemical etching cell and ZnO film deposited using RF sputtering. ► The average diameter of nano-pores is 5.7 nm produced in the PS layer which increased the porosity to 91%. ► The average crystallite size of the PS and ZnO/PS layers about 17 nm. ► Lowest effective reflectance was obtained for the ZnO/PS layers and exhibited exceptional light-trapping. ► High efficiency of the crystalline silicon solar cell of 18.15% was obtained with ZnO/PS ARC layers.