Analysis of highly efficient quad-crescent-shaped Si nanowires solar cell.

Nanostructured semiconductor nanowires (NWs) present a smart solution for broadband absorption solar cells (SCs) with high efficiency and low-cost. In this paper, a novel design of quad crescent-shaped silicon NW SC is introduced and numerically studied. The suggested NW has quad crescent shapes which create a cavity between any adjacent NWs. Such a cavity will permit multiple light scattering with improved absorption. Additionally, new modes will be excited along the NWs, which are highly coupled with the incident light. Further, the surface reflection from the crescent NWs is decreased due to the reduced surface filling ratio. The finite difference time domain method is utilized to analyze the optical characteristics of the reported structure. The proposed NW offers short circuit current density (Jsc) of 27.8 mA/cm and ultimate efficiency (η) of 34% with an enhancement of 14% and volume reduction of 40% compared to the conventional NWs. The J and η are improved to 35.8 mA/cm and 43.7% by adding a Si substrate and back reflector to the suggested crescent NWs.