Wavelength dependent optical characteristics: Intensity distribution in flat silicon and silicon nanowire used as absorber in solar cell

Solar cells utilize a small portion of solar spectrum depending on the technology while solar radiation being a full of UV-VIS-IR wavelengths does not leave absorbing and other layers unaffected. Only the photon energy that matches with absorber layer contributes to effective power generation of solar cell. Higher and lower energy wavelengths induce thermalization and absorption losses which in turn introduce several consequences including heating and degradation in the cell level. Therefore engineered absorbing layer such as nanowire based solar cell holds huge potential. Here in this work, we have investigated and simulated four deterministic characteristics, viz, absorption depth profile, electromagnetic field, Poynting vector and exciton generation rate distribution at different incidents. Flat silicon and silicon nanowire were considered as examples along with a comparative outlook. Such predictive studies facilitate the choice of technology and how to improve the cell efficiency using light trapping technique.