Thicker or thinner? Unveiling the best silicon for solar efficiency

This research uses electrical and optical simulations to investigate how substrate thickness and surface texturing affect silicon solar cell performance. Testing thicknesses from thirty to one hundred ninety micrometers reveals that thicker cells significantly reduce reflection and improve light absorption, which boosts short circuit current, power output, and overall efficiency. Peak efficiency occurs at one hundred ninety micrometers, whereas open circuit voltage remains mostly unaffected by changes in thickness. Additionally, applying pyramid surface texturing increases photocurrent density by more than fifty percent compared to flat cells. Ultimately, combining surface texturing with an optimal substrate thickness between one hundred sixty and one hundred ninety micrometers yields highly efficient solar cells while minimizing material consumption.