Optical scattering by anodized aluminum oxide for light management in thin film photovoltaics

摘要

We investigate the optical scattering properties of self-assembled nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) films, and propose integrating AAO as a backscattering layer for light management in thin film photovoltaics. Angle selective scattering and direction of light to extreme, near-horizontal angles can enable new functionality for semitransparent PV window coatings, allowing improved absorption of direct sunlight without sacrificing transparency in the normal direction. Scattering to extreme angles can also be exploited to aid light trapping in thin epitaxial semiconductor absorbers, without texturing.