A light-trapping strategy for nanocrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells using three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures

Abstract

We report three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures inducing multiple plasmon resonances for broadband light harvesting in nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film solar cells. A three-dimensional multiscale (3DM) assembly of nanoparticles generated using a multi-pin spark discharge method has been accomplished over a large area under atmospheric conditions via ion-assisted aerosol lithography. The multiscale features of the sophisticated 3DM structures exhibit surface plasmon resonances at multiple frequencies, which increase light scattering and absorption efficiency over a wide spectral range from 350-1100 nm. The multiple plasmon resonances, together with the antireflection functionality arising from the conformally deposited top surface of the 3D solar cell, lead to a 22% and an 11% improvement in power conversion efficiency of the nc-Si:H thin-film solar cells compared to flat cells and cells employing nanoparticle clusters, respectively. Finite-difference time-domain simulations were also carried out to confirm that the improved device performance mainly originates from the multiple plasmon resonances generated from three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures.

Moth-Eye TiO2Layer for Improving Light Harvesting Efficiency in Perovskite Solar Cells

“…Improving light harvesting efficiency (LHE) by optical modulation in perovskite solar cell is therefore expected to be a promising approach to this purpose. A number of methods were reported to increase LHE using the light scattering layers placed inside or outside solar cells, the photonic crystals, the plasmonic concept, and the anti‐reflective outer surfaces . Except for the anti‐reflection coatings that are mostly used and can be applied to the completed thin film solar cell devices, the light scattering method is one of the effective ways for improving LHE .…”

Optimizing the Aspect Ratio of Nanopatterned Mesoporous TiO2 Thin-Film Layer to Improve Energy Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells

“…Light harvesting is a crucial factor for the improvement of the ECE in solar cells [40][41][42]. In the literature, there have been numerous strategies to improve light harvesting, such as a light-scattering layer [43], antireflection outer surfaces [44,45], 3-D nanostructures [46], and nanostructured plasmonic contacts [47]. A nanopatterned mp-TiO 2 thin-film was introduced by using a new method to improve light harvesting in perovskite solar cells [7,[48][49][50].…”

Photonic Crystal Film Preparation and Characterization for Chemical Sensing

“…Recently, 3D photonic crystals have shown to be promising for various applications like solar cells [2], LEDs [3], photocatalysis [4] and sensors [5]. There are much research work reported on sensing applications of photonic crystals and still there are many unsolved problems left to be explored in this area.…”