Wet-Chemically Textured Ultra-Thin Gaas Solar Cells With Dielectric/Metal Rear Mirrors

The rear-side contact layer of ultra-thin GaAs solar cells was textured using a simple, one-step wet chemical approach. A ZnS/Ag double layer was conformally deposited to function as a diffusive rear mirror. Local Ohmic contact points provided electrical contact directly to the Ag. The textured solar cells were compared with planar reference cells fabricated on the same wafer and a clear enhancement of long-wavelength quantum efficiency and short-circuit current was observed in the textured cells. Both architectures showed FF > 80% and V-OC > I V. Additionally, the rear-side texture increases the external luminescent efficiency by enhancing outcoupling of luminescence.