Review Application of Nanostructured Black Silicon

Abstract

As a widely used semiconductor material, silicon has been extensively used in many areas, such as photodiode, photodetector, and photovoltaic devices. However, the high surface reflectance and large bandgap of traditional bulk silicon restrict the full use of the spectrum. To solve this problem, many methods have been developed. Among them, the surface nanostructured silicon, namely black silicon, is the most efficient and widely used. Due to its high absorption in the wide range from UV-visible to infrared, black silicon is very attractive for using as sensitive layer of photodiodes, photodetector, solar cells, field emission, luminescence, and other photoelectric devices. Intensive study has been performed to understand the enhanced absorption of black silicon as well as the response extended to infrared spectrum range. In this paper, the application of black silicon is systematically reviewed. The limitations and challenges of black silicon material are also discussed. This article will provide a meaningful introduction to black silicon and its unique properties.

Black Silicon Photodetector with Excellent Comprehensive Properties by Rapid Thermal Annealing and Hydrogenated Surface Passivation

“…This is primarily attributed to surface microstructures formed by femtosecond laser ablation and intermediate energy levels induced by hyperdoped impurities. The geometric spikes can significantly increase the optical path length, thus decreasing the total reflectance, while the enhancement of infrared absorption depends more on the hyperdoped impurities . Therefore, annealing reduces infrared absorption due to the thermal diffusion of impurities.…”

“…Recently, ultrafast laser hyperdoped silicon (b‐Si) has attracted much interest due to its distinctive properties and potential for a range of applications . In particular, b‐Si materials hyperdoped with chalcogens (e.g., S, Se, and Te) or transition metals (e.g., Ag, Au, and Ti) have gained considerable attention due to their strong visible and infrared absorption, with great potential in intermediate‐band solar cells, light emitters, gas sensors, and photodetectors .…”

Black silicon quality control by conditions of nickel-assisted etching of crystalline silicon surfaces in photovoltaic devices

“…These channels were sufficiently large for the flow of etching solution through the film to the reaction area. Consequently, the H 2 O 2 decomposition at Si surface can occur and, hence, the etching mechanism described by equations (2) and (3) can be engaged in Si surface etching. The etching rate for Si surface under metal was dependent on the tunnel-like channels between the grains in Ni film.…”

“…One of the commonly accepted ways to increase the PV cell efficiency was the light management on the cell surface. It was proved that the 'black silicon' (black-Si) is an acceptable method to reduce the reflectance of the Si PV cell surface down to the minimum [2]. Black-Si was commonly accepted as the nano-and micro-structured silicon surfaces that effectively suppress reflection, while simultaneously enhancing the scattering and absorption of light and a black look instead of a silver-gray look of pure silver wafer [3].…”

Economic Advantages of Dry-Etched Black Silicon in Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) Photovoltaic Manufacturing

“…First it is clear from the technical literature [26,77,78] that there is still more work to be done to optimize the black mc-Si PERC. For example, studies could look at the optimization of b-Si emitter diffusion [46,79] or contact formation [80] processes or surface morphology to find a balance between reflectance and light trapping [81] and the threshold for the defect levels present after RIE (i.e., the quality of the b-Si in the literature may be above the economic optimum), which could be funded by traditional university research funding programs from national funders such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy in the U.S. and Horizon 2020 [82] in Europe.…”