Antireflective Coating Nanocrystalline α-Fe2O3 Layer for Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

A new antireflective nano-coating of α-Fe2O3 for glass surfaces using dip-coating technique working in the visible and near infrared optical spectrum was developed and characterized. α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal process. Thermal transformation strategy is designed to transfer β-FeOOH into α-Fe2O3. The structure and morphology of the iron oxide nanoparticles were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Optical properties of antireflective coatings (ARC) deposited from ethanolic solution of α-Fe2O3 have been characterized. 93.4 % optical transmittance using optimal dip coating conditions (dipping rate – 3 cm/10 sec, coating time – 5min, and temperature – 25 ºC) for annealed powder at 300 °C for 1 hr.