NOVELTY - A photovoltaic cell comprises a glass superstrate (212) having an upper and a lower surface; light scattering material within the glass superstrate, having a different index of refraction than the glass superstrate; a smooth transparent conducting layer (215) having an upper and a lower surface; a p-type semiconductor layer-intrinsic semiconductor layer-n-type semiconductor layer (PIN) semiconductor diode (216) below the smooth transparent conducting layer; a conducting layer below the PIN semiconductor diode; and a back reflector (220) below the conducting layer.    USE - Photovoltaic cell for use in photovoltaic solar panel.    ADVANTAGE - The photovoltaic cell has fewer defects and recombination centers and provides improved performance. It also provides a photovoltaic solar panel with improved trapping characteristics, while reducing voids and defects in the semiconductor layer, resulting in improved electricity conversion.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A photovoltaic cell comprises a glass superstrate (212) having an upper and a lower surface; light scattering material within the glass superstrate, having a different index of refraction than the glass superstrate; a smooth transparent conducting layer (215) having an upper and a lower surface, where the upper surface contacts the lower surface of the glass superstrate; a p-type semiconductor layer-intrinsic semiconductor layer-n-type semiconductor layer (PIN) semiconductor diode below the smooth transparent conducting layer and contacting the lower surface; a conducting layer below the PIN semiconductor diode (216); and a back reflector (220) below the conducting layer. The light scattering material is a textured layer or transparent particles (214) between the upper and lower surfaces of the glass superstrate. The texture layer is 50-2000 nm thick. The particles have a higher melting temperature and a greater index of refraction than the glass superstrate. They have a radius of 50-2000 nm. The particles comprise silicon carbide or titanium dioxide. The smooth transparent conducting layer comprises a metal, particularly aluminum. The light scattering material is an insulator. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method for converting sunlight into electricity.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing is a side, cross-sectional view of a single junction amorphous silicon thin-film solar panel showing one possible path of trapped light.    Glass superstrate (212)    Particles (214)    Smooth transparent conducting layer (215)    Pin semiconductor diode (216)    Back reflector (220)