Electrodeposited zinc oxide arrays with the moth-eye effect

The materials of modern photovoltaic cells exhibit significant light reflection which is avoided using antireflective coatings. The possibility of fabricating antireflective coatings such as nanoscale zinc oxide arrays with a parabolic profile by pulsed electrochemical deposition from aqueous electrolytes is shown for the first time. The effect of the deposition conditions on the optical properties of oxide arrays is studied using spectrophotometry. The structural characteristics are analyzed by X-ray diffraction data. The morphology of the grown arrays is determined by atomic-force microscopy. Optimization of the pulsed electrodeposition conditions allows correction of the parabolic nanonipple sizes, thus providing the fabrication of antireflective coatings based on electrodeposited zinc oxide arrays with the moth-eye effect, applicable to photovoltaic cells.