Optimization of black diamond films for solar energy conversion

Black diamond, namely a surface textured diamond film able to absorb efficiently the sunlight, is developed by the use of ultrashort pulse laser treatments. With the aim of fabricating a 2D periodic surface structure, a double-step texturing process is implemented and compared to the single-step one, able to induce the formation of 1D periodic structures. Although the obtained sub-microstructure does not show a regular 2D periodicity, a solar absorptance of about 98% is achieved as well as a quantum efficiency enhanced of one order of magnitude with respect to the 1D periodic surface texturing. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.