Efficient enhancement of light trapping in the double-textured Al doped ZnO films with nanorod and crater structures

Double-textured Al doped ZnO (AZO) films with nanorod and crater structures were prepared by the simple hydrothermal growth of AZO nanorods on the single-textured AZO films with crater structures. The light trapping capabilities, morphological, structural and optoelectronic properties of double-textured AZO films prepared with different precursor concentrations were demonstrated systematically. Remarkable surface morphology evolution of the double-textured films depending on precursor concentration was observed. Especially, the relationship between surface morphologies and light trapping capabilities of the AZO films with nanorod and crater structures was discussed. The double-textured AZO films having nanorod and crater structures prepared with 0.01 M precursor concentration exhibited low sheet resistance, high visible total transmittance and haze value, which could be used as transparent front electrodes for enhancing the light trapping in solar cells. •Double-textured AZO films were obtained by growing nanorods on crater structures.•Remarkable morphology evolution depending on precursor concentration was observed.•Double-textured AZO films improved light trapping capability efficiently.•The effect of textured morphology on the light trapping capability was discussed.