Broadband light absorption enhancement in thin-film silicon solar cells

Currently, the performances of thin film solar cells are limited by poor light absorption and carrier collection. In this research, large, broadband, and polarization-insensitive light absorption enhancement was realized via integrating with unique metallic nanogratings. Through simulation, three possible mechanisms were identified to be responsible for such an enormous enhancement. A test for totaling the absorption over the solar spectrum shows an up to approximately 30% broadband absorption enhancement when comparing to bare thin film cells.