Diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) has become a promising thin film for many fields of applications due to its unique and tunable properties. However, low optical bandgap and thermal stability limits its application in many fields particularly as antireflection coating on solar cell. In the present study, the DLN thin film has been deposited using a mixed liquid precursor by rf-PECVD process. Surprisingly the presence of nc-C60 in FCC structure in DLN matrix has been observed. The degree of crystallinity and diameter of C60 have been increased significantly after annealed at 850 °C. The film has been annealed at 850 °C to primarily investigate its feasibility as antireflection coating (ARC) in compatible with industrial solar cell fabrication process. The refractive index and optical bandgap of the film were around 1.80 and 4.10 eV, respectively. Moreover, the optical bandgap has decreased to some extent to 3.92 eV even after annealing at such high temperature. The high SiOx at% and embedded nc-C60 enhanced the optical transparency and thermal stability of the DLN film. The solar-weighted average reflection of DLN-coated textured silicon was reduced significantly to 1.91%. The C60 embedded DLN film has a great potential to apply in different optoelectronic devices especially in solar cell as ARC.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
    3 Results and discussion
    4 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Sukhendu Jana(Centre of Advanced Research in Renewable Energy and Sensor Technology (CARREST), Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology, CEGESS, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology)
• Sayan Das(Centre of Advanced Research in Renewable Energy and Sensor Technology (CARREST), Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology)
• Debasish D(Centre of Advanced Research in Renewable Energy and Sensor Technology (CARREST), Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology)
• Nanda Shakti(Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology)
• Anup Mondal(Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, CEGESS, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology)
• Sekhar Bhattacharya(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
• Utpal Gongopadhyay(Centre of Advanced Research in Renewable Energy and Sensor Technology (CARREST))