Morphology dependent optical properties of ZnO/SiNWs nanocomposites. (16th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharstniou, Aliaksandr; Niauzorau, Stanislau; Chubenko, Eugene; Azeredo, Bruno P.; Bondarenko, Vitaly
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 2:Number 58/59(2017)
• Page Start: 3667
• Page End: 3672
• Publication Date: 2017-05-16
• Subjects: annealing, -- electrodeposition, -- nanostructure; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2017.367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Zinc oxide/silicon nanowires (ZnO/SiNWs) nanocomposites is a promising material for heterojunction solar cells. They combine the low-reflectivity of SiNWs, where photogenerated charge carriers are produced and harvested, and the high transparency of ZnO, which serves as a functional transparent conductive electrode. In this paper, we present a study of the anti-reflective properties of ZnO/SiNWs core-shell nanostructures. SiNWs were fabricated by a two-step metal-assisted chemical etching and coated with ZnO by electrochemical deposition. Particularly, the change in the specular reflectance of ZnO/SiNWs nanocomposites as a function of thermal annealing temperature under ambient atmosphere is investigated. First, it was shown that the reflectance in the wavelength range of 400-1000 nm of as-synthesized ZnO/SiNWs nanocomposites increases when compared to the bare SiNWs formed from Si wafers with resistivity of 0.3 and 12 Ω∙cm by an 0.51 % and 0.47 %, respectively. Second, it was found that annealed ZnO/SiNWs had a 0.26 % and 0.17 % lower reflectance in the wavelength range of 400-1000 nm than as-synthesized ZnO/SiNWs and yet higher than bare SiNWs. Potential causes such results are discussed in the context of existing literature.