Texture profile and aspect ratio influence on the front reflectance of solar cells

Diffraction gratings and reactive ion etching textures have been proposed as a way to enhance the optical performance of solar cells. Extensive calculations have been carried out to investigate the influence of depth-to-period ratio of triangular and rectangular gratings on front reflectance. Losses are quantified by means of the reduction of short-circuit current due to reflection. It is concluded that gratings with triangular profile can feature very low reflectance when the depth-to-period ratio is very large. If periods are very small compared to light wavelength, however, light does not become tilted and other means to confine it in the cell must be additionally engineered.