Improvement in photovoltaic properties of silicon solar cells with a doped porous silicon layer with rare earth (Ce, La) as antireflection coatings

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2013-09, Vol.141, p.1-5
• Main Authors: Atyaoui, Malek, Dimassi, Wissem, Atyaoui, Atef, Elyagoubi, Jalel, Ouertani, Rachid, Ezzaouia, Hatem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-reflection coating (ARC); Applied sciences; Energy; Energy conversion efficiency; Exact sciences and technology; Luminescence; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaic properties; Porous silicon; Porous silicon (PS); Rare earth (Ce, La); Rare earth metals; Reflectivity; Silicon; Solar cell; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2013.03.024

The performance improvement of solar cells due to the formation of a porous silicon layer treated with rare earth (Ce, La) in the n+ emitter of silicon n+/p junctions has been investigated. The photovoltaic properties of the cells with and without treatment of the porous silicon layer are compared. From the reflection measurements, it was shown that the cells with treated PS layers have lower reflectivity value compared to cell with untreated PS layer. The main result is that the photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency of solar cells can be enhanced by using the treated porous silicon layers with the rare earth (Ce, La) as anti-reflection coatings. • The reduction of optical loss in silicon (c-Si) solar cells attracts the attention of many researches to achieve high efficiencies.• To attain this aim, the treated PS layers with rare earth (La, Ce) are suggested to be used as an (ARC) of c-Si solar cell.• The result showed a decrease in the optical losses which can explain the improved photovoltaic properties.