An optically enhanced photovoltaic device.

摘要

An optically enhanced thin film photovoltaic device, for example, a solar cell, includes a layer of transparent conductor (2), for example sputter deposited indium-tin-oxide, metallurgically fixed to an active semiconductor layer (6), for example of amorphous silicon. To layer (6) is affixed a layer (8) of reflective material, for example, silver or copper. The surface of at least one of the layers (2, 6, 8) is textured to include randomly spaced, densely packed microstructures of selected dimensions approximating to the wave-length of visible light in the photovoltaic material. The texturing may suitably be achieved by a lithographic technique. Preferably a transparent substrate layer (4), suitably of glass or quartz, supports the transparent conductor (2). Preferably, too, the interface surfaces of the substrate (4) and conductor layer (2) are also textured.