Cu nanoparticles enable plasmonic-improved silicon photovoltaic devices

Abstract

This work examines the effect of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) on the photocurrent efficiency of silicon photovoltaic (Si PV) devices. An optimized synthesis of stable Cu NPs is reported together with a procedure for their immobilization on the Si PV surface. A comprehensive analysis of the photocurrent and power dependence of the Cu NPs surface coverage and size is presented. A decrease in photoconversion was observed for wavelengths shorter than B500 nm, due to the Cu interband absorption. In the low surface coverage limit, where the level of aggregation was found to be low, the surface plasmon resonance absorption dominates leading to a modest effect on the photocurrent response. As the number of aggregates increased with the surface coverage, the photocurrent efficiency also increased, and a maximum enhancement power conversion of 16% was found for a 54 AE 6 NPs per mm 2 PV cell. This enhancement was attributed to SPR light scattering and trapping into the Si PV device. Higher surface coverage yielded numerous aggregates which acted as a bulk coating and caused a decrease in both photocurrent and power measurements.

Correlating Single-Molecule Sers Statistics to Plasmonic Nanocluster Structure and Near-Field Properties

“…The relative probability densities for θ = 0 and θ = π/2 can be calculated as: (6) where r(θ = π/2) is the AuNS radius, R. Therefore, p(θ) can be written as:…”

“…Metal nanoparticles have presented an increased interest over the years due to their vast range of applicability, such as fast optical communication, 1,2 enhanced spectroscopies, 3,4 photovoltaics, [5][6][7] optical sensors [8][9][10] and photocatalysis. [11][12][13][14][15][16] All such properties are derived from the excitation of coherent surface localized electromagnetic modes, called surface plasmon.…”

Morphology, Electrical and Optical Properties of Cu Nanostructures Embedded in AZO: A Comparison between Dry and Wet Methods

“…The latter is an important and strategic research field, since solar cells can supply renewable and sustainable energy. Therefore, the task for researchers is to realize solar cell technology, of which the main characteristics are high efficiency, cost-effective, and environment-friendly in nature [6][7][8]. In terms of high efficiency, apart from the type of generation with their specific absorber layer and technology, the light harvesting performance of solar cell is a crucial factor, which heavily affects its efficiency [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance and Broadband Visible Photoresponse of Cu Nanoparticles/ZnO Surfaces

“…chemical sensing, 1 catalysis, 2 photonics, 3 and photovoltaics. 4,5,6 Cu NP have the advantage of their low cost compared with Au and Ag. Moreover, Cu is already a material widely used in 3 microelectronics, with high electrical conductivity and photosensitivity, 7 making Cu NP promising in applications related with nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, sensing, etc.…”