Nanostructure, Optical and Optoelectronic Properties of Silver Nanoparticle- based Chemical Etching on Monocrystalline Silicon for Solar Cell Applications

Introduction: Silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-based chemical etching is applied to produce silicon nanowires (SiNWs) on monocrystalline silicon. Methods: The effect of etching time on the production of silicon nanowires and on optical and optoelectronic properties was studied. Results: Using this approach, surface recombination velocity (S eff ) and the effective lifetime (τ eff ) evolution of SiNWs after passivation were improved, and SiNWs obtained in the optimal time of 20 min, exhibited shallow reflection of 1% in the wavelength range of 300–1100 nm. Conclusion: Thus, passivated solar cell-based SiNWs in an HF/HNO 3 /H 2 O solution were essential for increasing the efficiency of solar cell-based SiNWs from 9% to nearly 15%.