The photovoltaic potential of femtosecond laser textured amorphous silicon

Femtosecond laser texturing of silicon yields nanometer scale surface roughness that reduces reflection and enhances light absorption. In this work, we study the potential of using this technique to improve efficiencies of amorphous silicon-based solar cells by laser texturing thin amorphous silicon films. We use Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser systems to texture amorphous silicon in either hydrogen or sulfur hexafluoride ambient gases and we also study the effect of laser texturing the substrate before depositing amorphous silicon. We adjust the thin-film thickness and laser fabrication condition. We report on the material properties including surface morphology, light absorption, crystallinity, as well as solar cell efficiencies before and after laser texturing.