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RESEARCHDecember 15, 2008Nanocones soak up sunlightShape the surface of an amorphous silicon solar cell into a forest of microscopic cones and you can make the cells absorb twice the sunlight.The nanocones let the layer of the cell that absorbs light double as an antireflective coating. The nanocones absorb more than 90 percent of light at angles up to 60 degrees. Ordinary amorphous silicon thin films absorb only 45 percent, and silicon nanowire arrays only 70 percent. The nanocones reduce reflection and their tapered shape helps transmit light across the boundary between air and silicon. Research paper: Optical Absorption Enhancement in Amorphous Silicon Nanowire and Nanocone Arrays Nano Letters, published online December 10, 2008 Researchers' homepages: Yi Cui Group Fan Group McGehee Group Yueqin Xu Qi Wang Related stories and briefs: Coating passes more light to solar cells -- related research Bugs inspire better solar cell coatings -- related research Back to ERN December 15/22, 2008 |
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