Integration of silicon nanowires in solar cell structure for efficiency enhancement: A review

Abstract

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are a one-dimensional semiconductor, which shows promising applications in distinct areas such as photocatalysis, lithium-ion batteries, gas sensors, medical diagnostics, drug delivery, and solar cell. From an implementation point of view, SiNWs are fabricated using either a top-down or bottom-up approach, and SiNWs are both optically and electronically active. SiNWs enhances the efficiency of the solar cell due to better electronic, optical, and physical properties that can be controlled by tuning the physical dimensions of SiNWs. The SiNWs shows an inherent capability to be utilized in radial or coaxial p-n junction solar cells, to stipulate orthogonal photon absorption, anti-reflection, and enhanced carrier collection. This paper reviews property-control of SiNWs, their various types of incorporation in a solar cell, and the reasons behind enhanced efficiency. Keywords: Optical, Electronic and physical properties, Axial solar cell, Radial solar cell, Anti-reflection coating, Silicon nanowires solar cell