article · Physics Access
Computer simulations using MATLAB evaluated how changing the thickness of a solar cell dielectric layer influences its optical performance. The investigation tested layer thicknesses between 10 and 100 nanometres across light wavelengths spanning 200 to 1200 nanometres. As layer thickness increased, light absorption efficiency also rose, reaching its highest level at 100 nanometres. At this maximum thickness, light absorption reached approximately 0.9 at a wavelength of 600 nanometres, while transmittance dropped to about 0.05 and reflectance settled between 0.45 and 0.50. The resulting balance between absorption and reflectance achieved a peak efficiency of 94.86 per cent. These theoretical findings confirm that a layer thickness in the 80 to 100 nanometre range provides superior performance, demonstrating the critical role of precise layer thickness management in solar cell fabrication and design.
Improving solar cell efficiency is vital for generating more clean energy from sunlight. By determining the exact thickness of the dielectric layer that captures the most light, engineers can design more effective solar panels. These simulation results show how microscopic structural adjustments can significantly minimise lost light and maximise overall device efficiency.
The theoretical results provide design parameters for solar cell engineers and photovoltaic manufacturers aiming to optimise anti-reflective or dielectric coatings. Because the findings are based entirely on MATLAB computational modelling, the work represents early-stage research. Real-world commercialisation will require translating these simulated thickness thresholds into physical thin-film fabrication processes and testing them under operating conditions.
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This study investigates the effect of varying dielectric layer thickness on the optical properties of solar cells using MATLAB. Dielectric layers with thickness ranging from 10 to 100 nm were analyzed across 200 to 1200 nm wavelengths. Results showed that absorption efficiency increased with thickness, reaching a peak at 100 nm, where the absorption value was approximately 0.9 at 600 nm. Reflectance stabilized around 0.45 to 0.50, while transmittance was minimized to about 0.05, indicating that almost all incident light was absorbed or reflected at this thickness. The highest efficiency recorded was 94.86%, confirming that the 100 nm dielectric layer provided the best balance between absorption and reflectance. These findings align with previous studies, which identified the 80–100 nm thickness range as optimal for enhancing solar cell performance. This research highlights the importance of precise thickness control in solar cell design to achieve maximum light absorption and device efficiency.
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DOI: 10.47514/phyaccess.2025.5.1.007
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