Materials and process engineering of antireflection coatings for enhancement of efficiency in silicon solar cells

Abstract

Polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) solar cells remain the foundation of terrestrial photovoltaic energy production due to their cost effectiveness, mature manufacturing processes, and proven reliability. However, their outdoor power conversion efficiency is limited by significant optical reflection losses at the air–semiconductor interface, particularly under AM1.5 solar irradiance, which reduces light absorption and charge carrier generation. Antireflection coatings (ARCs) have emerged as an effective solution to mitigate these losses by enhancing light transmission into the active layer. This review evaluates a broad range of ARC materials including conventional options like SiNx, TiO₂, and MgF₂, as well as emerging zinc based, polymeric, and hybrid coatings and their impact on the optical and electrical performance of poly-Si solar cells. Emphasis is placed on optimizing refractive index, layer thickness, and spectral alignment with the AM1.5 spectrum to minimize reflectance. The influence of deposition techniques such as sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), spin coating, dip coating, and sol–gel methods on coating quality, morphology, and interface passivation is also discussed. These factors directly affect key electrical parameters including short circuit current density (J_SC), open circuit voltage (V_OC), fill factor (FF), and overall efficiency (PCE). While theoretical studies on light interference and carrier dynamics were not covered, modelling efforts are included to analyze reflection, transmission, and resulting solar cell characteristics. Additionally, considerations such as long-term stability, thermal durability, environmental resistance, and material compatibility are highlighted as critical for practical deployment. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive perspective on the materials science, device engineering, and performance outcomes of ARCs for poly-Si solar cells, aiming to guide future research and industrial optimization toward high efficiency outdoor photovoltaics.