As an effective method of increasing its total conversion efficiency, the protective layer of solar cells was patterned with a nano-sized moth-eye structure. This pattern with its special shape and size serves as an anti-reflective layer. To form a pattern on the PVC film, the hot-embossing method was used. Moreover, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film patterned on both sides was also fabricated to improve the performance of anti-reflection functionality. A solar cell with a patterned PVC film as a protective layer exhibited higher quantum efficiency and total conversion efficiency than a solar cell with a bare PVC film as a protective layer. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.