Simulation of a Silicon Solar Cell Using Triple-Layer Anti-Reflection Coatings (ARC)

Considering solar energy is being used more and more frequently in recent years, numerous studies have been conducted in order to improve the performance of the solar cell. The application of anti-reflective coating (ARC) in the solar cell is one of the most effective techniques. It has been said that although single and double ARC layers are adequate, applying triple ARC layers would render them significantly more effective across a broad spectrum. Henceforth, in this study, different materials were recently designed to produce triple layers of ARC, which are SiO 2 /Si 3 N 4 /TiO 2 , SiO 2 /ZnO/TiO 2 , ZnO/Si 3 N 4 /TiO 2 , SiO 2 /Si 3 N 4 /ZnS, and SiO 2 /ZnO/ZnS, which are then applied in silicon solar cells using PC1D simulation software. The outcomes of the simulation included the analysis of the I-V curve, efficiency (ŋ), and reflection, in addition to the results for short circuit current (I sc ), maximum power output (P max ), open circuit voltage (V oc ), and fill factor (FF), which have been compared to numerous other theoretical findings from other investigations and research projects. By that, the simulation revealed that SiO 2 /ZnO/TiO 2 is the most suitable triple-layer ARC to be applied to a silicon solar cell, which exhibits the highest efficiency of 22.63% with an I sc of 3.967A, P max of 2.489W, a V oc of 0.7389V, and a fill factor of 84.91 at a wavelength of 400 nm.