Influence of anti-reflection coatings on double GaAs/Si heterojunction layers in Si solar cells

In this work, a c-Si solar cell with double GaAs/Si heterojunction layers is simulated using PC1D simulation software. Optimization of the thickness and doping concentration of different layers of the solar cell is carried out. The impact of six different anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) on solar cell efficiency is investigated. Texturing of the front surface is carried out before studying the effect of ARCs. The simulation shows an increase in efficiency around 1.87% is achieved after applying an ARC of optimum thickness. Double-layer ARCs demonstrate a maximum efficiency of 17.41% in solar cells, which was about 15.54% without the coating. The effects of ARCs on the voltage, current, efficiency and reflectance are also studied in the wavelength range of 250 nm to 1200 nm. The maximum voltage, current and efficiency of the cells are achieved when the thicknesses of the ARCs are optimized at a wavelength of 600 nm.