Smart Solar Surfaces: Investigating the Effect of Surface Texture on Photovoltaic Efficiency

Abstract

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems is strongly influenced by the amount of solar radiation that reaches the active semiconductor surface. A significant fraction of incident sunlight can be lost through reflection at the air–glass or air–semiconductor interface before it contributes to electricity generation. Surface texturing is an important optical-engineering approach for reducing reflection and increasing light trapping within photovoltaic devices. This study proposes an experimental investigation into the effect of surface texture on photovoltaic performance by comparing solar cells or small PV modules having different surface morphologies. A smooth reference surface is proposed to be compared with micro-textured and more strongly textured surfaces under controlled illumination conditions. Electrical parameters including voltage, current, output power and conversion efficiency would be measured, while surface characteristics such as texture type, approximate feature size and surface roughness would be documented. The underlying mechanism is based on multiple reflections and increased optical path length: appropriately designed textures can redirect incident light into the absorbing layer and reduce front-surface reflection. However, excessive or poorly controlled roughness may introduce optical, electrical or manufacturing disadvantages. The proposed study therefore aims not simply to maximize roughness but to identify a surface texture that provides an effective balance between light trapping, optical transmission and photovoltaic electrical output. The research is relevant to the development of smart solar surfaces that can improve energy harvesting without requiring a fundamental change in the photovoltaic material itself.