Scattering analysis of the indium-tin-oxide (ITO) nanowhiskers on ITO film substrate for thin film solar cell

Abstract

Light trapping techniques such as textured interfaces and highly reflective back contacts are important to thin-film solar cells. Scattering at rough interfaces inside a solar cell leads to enhanced absorption due to an increased optical path length in the active layers, which is generally characterized by a haze ratio. In this work, we demonstrate the measured haze characteristics of indium tin oxide nano-whiskers deposited on an ITO-coated glass substrate. A theoretical model based on a modified Mie theory is also employed to analyze the scattering effects of nano-whiskers. Instead of spherical model, a cylindrical condition is imposed to better fit the shapes of the whiskers. The calculated haze-ratio of an ITO whisker layer matches the measurement closely.