Employing SiO2/TiO2/ZrO2 blends for boosting the power conversion efficiency of polycrystalline Si solar cells.

Obtaining maximum efficiency is one of the key elements of renewable energy sources in the present era. In this context, the research focuses on enhancing the power conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells through anti-reflective coating. Better light transmittance in silicon solar cells with anti-reflective thin film coatings results in higher power conversion efficiency. The RF sputtering technique was employed to deposit the thin film of ARCs on polycrystalline Si solar cells. Blends of metal oxides such as SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZrO₂ have been employed in different combinations to achieve a higher PCE. Using the RF sputtering technique, the coating was uniform. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were both used to examine the structural and morphological characteristics of ARC-coated and uncoated silicon solar cells, respectively. By employing the four-point probe approach, the electrical resistivity was measured in the dark and at room temperature. Solar cell samples were examined for their optical properties through UV–visible spectroscopy. By comparing the efficiency of the ARC-coated and uncoated solar cell samples, it is evident that solar cells coated with the SiO₂/TiO₂/ZrO₂ mechanical blend show an improved PCE of 19.8% under open atmospheric conditions and 21.93% under controlled atmospheric conditions compared to the uncoated, SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZrO₂-coated cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]