Photon management with core-shell nanowire structures

Antireflective Si/oxide core-shell nanowire arrays (NWAs) were fabricated by galvanic etching and subsequent annealing process. The excellent light-harvesting characteristics of the core-shell NWAs, such as broadband working ranges, omnidirectionality, and polarization-insensitivity, ascribed to the smooth index transition from air to the substrates, have been demonstrated. By tuning core-shell volume ratios, we obtained enhanced light trapping regions implemented in either the planar Si underneath NWAs or the core regions of NWAs, greatly benefiting the geometry design of planar and radial p-n junction cell structures, respectively. This photon management scheme indicates the potential use in nanostructured photovoltaic applications. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America