"The Science Behind the Dark and Rough Surface of Black Silicon in Solar Cells"

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have developed a new theoretical model explaining how black silicon, a crucial material used in solar cells and other applications, is created by etching the surface of regular silicon with fluorine gas to produce tiny nanoscale pits that trap more light. The new model reveals how fluorine gas breaks certain bonds in the silicon based on their orientation, creating a rough surface ideal for light absorption. This research represents an early success in PPPL's foray into quantum chemistry and fills a gap in publicly available research on the production of black silicon.