Multi-functional SiO2 moth-eye pattern for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

A moth-eye pattern made of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles mixed with MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) was fabricated on a glass substrate using a direct printing method. The patterned glass was annealed to improve hardness and a heptdecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl trichloro-silane based self-assembled monolayer (HDFS-SAM) was applied to the moth-eye pattern to reduce surface energy which improves hydrophobic properties. Compared to flat glass, the moth-eye patterned glass with a HDFS-SAM coating showed reduced reflectance, strong hardness, and high efficiency. As a result, the J(SC) of photovoltaic module was increased up to 1.9755 mA/cm(2) and efficiency was improved by 4.66% by the increased current density (J(sc)) of photovoltaic system, and the external quantum efficiency was enhanced over the entire visible spectrum. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.