A light trapping photovoltaic cell comprising a plurality of cells connected with walls wherein the cells have a plurality of generally straight vertical walls and a bottom region adjacent the generally vertical walls. The bottom region of the cells is pitched toward the center of the bottoms. The light trapping cells provide a structure that allows for improved absorption of incident light. Optionally, a light trapping photovoltaic cell may further comprise a hydrophobic protective layer such as, for example, may be provided by a plurality of nano-sized bumps on the surfaces of the cell walls. Additionally, the cells may exhibit other properties including, for example, deicing, anti-fouling, and self-cleaning.