Silicon nanowire arrays synthesized using the modified MACE process: Integration into chemical sensors and solar cells

Abstract

In this work, the influence of the technological process for metal-assisted chemical etching on surface morphology and electrophysical properties of obtained nanostructures has been investigated. It has been demonstrated that the obtained structures with a high aspect ratio could be used both in sensors and solar cells. It has been shown that application of the metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) process enables to significantly improve the short-circuit current density in silicon solar cells (up to 29 mA/cm2). Also, the possibility of detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose (via enzymatic reaction) by resistor-like sensors with nanostructured silicon as the sensitive area has been demonstrated with the sensitivity up to 2.5…2.75 mA/V•%.