Light harvesting by a spherical silicon microcavity

Silicon colloids are presented as efficient absorbers in the VIS-NIR region. The theory of resonant absorption by Mie modes in a single high-index sphere is reviewed and engineering rules established. The presented model predicts enhanced absorption in the crystalline silicon band-to-band absorption region, with absorption efficiencies exceeding one in the VIS and excellent NIR response. A maximum resonant absorption efficiency close to 4 can be obtained at the violet region (425 nm), and values above 0.25 are possible in the bandgap edge at wavelengths up to 1400 nm. Silicon colloids are proposed as a promising cost-effective, silicon saving, sunlight harvesters with improved VIS and NIR response.