Modeling of Optical Properties of Black Silicon/Crystalline Silicon

Abstract

Black Silicon, a surface modification of silicon has low reflectance and correspondingly high absorptance in the visible range of wavelengths making it more viable than crystalline silicon for applications in silicon optoelectronics. Like crystalline Si, black silicon has potential applications in solar cells, sensors, antibacterial surfaces and offers new opportunities. In this study, the optical properties of black silicon, in the visible, near and short wavelength infrared region, are simulated based on the effective medium approximation. The application of Helmholtz’s law of optical reciprocity to the two layer medium of black silicon on crystalline silicon is examined. In the long wavelength infrared region, the reported values of emissivity of black silicon are compared with those in the literature. In general, the emissivity of black silicon is higher than that of crystalline silicon. Received: October 27, 2015, Accepted: November 17, 2015, Published: November