Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells

In this paper we present the design, optimization and characterization of a light trapping architecture that is applied to a thin, 50 micron, silicon solar cell structure. We combine a number of novel photonic engineering device concepts to realize the structure, including a single period hybrid dielectric-metallic back surface reflector and a host of diffraction gratings. We present a novel deep ultraviolet lithography process used in the realization of these gratings and a simulated analysis of their light trapping performance in the solar cell structure.