Improved broadband antireflection in Schottky-like junction of conformal Al-doped ZnO layer on chemically textured Si surfaces.

Chemically textured Si with improved absorption in the complete range of solar spectrum is investigated by ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared (UV/Vis/NIR) spectroscopy, showing an average specular reflectance of ~0.4% in the wavelength of 500-3000nm. The pyramidal structures on such solar-blind Si can reduce the reflectance further below 0.1% in the UV region by conformal growth of granular Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films. X-ray diffraction analyses suggest the growth of polycrystalline AZO on faceted-Si. Moreover, marginal increase in electrical conductivity of AZO is found on textured surfaces, whereas rise in leakage current in Schottky-like Ag/AZO/Si/Ag heterostructure devices is noticed with increasing Si surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]