By R. Jayakrishnan, Department of Physics, Christian College Chengannur; Prakash Suratkar, General Manager of Technology, Tata BP Solar India Ltd
The key to delivering highly efficient solar cells is to absorb as much light as possible from the solar spectrum and convert it effectively into electrical energy. Anti-reflective coatings have served as agents for reducing reflective losses and improving bulk and surface passivation thus enhancing both of the parameters – short circuit current and open circuit voltage of a solar cell. Simulation studies show that an SiN/MgF dual-layer anti-reflective coating is best for a bare cell. This paper takes a closer look at how this coating can reduce the reflectance for a broad range of wavelengths and thus enhance the quantum efficiency of the cell in the blue and red region of the solar spectrum.
