Nanoparticle-enhanced thin film solar cells: Metallic or dielectric nanoparticles?

Akimov, Yuriy; Koh, W. S.; Sian, Shing Yin R.; Ren, Shoutian

doi:10.1063/1.3315942

Cited by 160 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…By using relatively large Ag islands (around 50 nm) the scattering of light into the PV cell is enhanced, the plasmon resonance of these particles can be tuned so it is around the desired wavelength by modifying the surrounding local dielectric environment [179]. Note that the enhancement may be optimised by varying the shape, size, material and surface coverage of the nanostructure [178][179][180][181][182][183][184]. Figure 6a shows that higher aspect nanostructures (i.e., cylinders rather than spheres) maximises the fraction of incident light scattered into the photoactive layer and hence enhances the solar cell efficiency [180].…”

Section: Existing and Emerging Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The key is to design the nanostructure geometry such that the enhanced forward scattering into the photoactive layer obtained via coupling of surface plasmons is not overshadowed by strong absorbance of incident light at the plasmon resonance wavelength of the nanoparticles [178]. Recall Section 3, in particular equations (16) and (17) which showed that scattering dominates in larger particles whereas absorbance is more important for smaller particles.…”

Section: Existing and Emerging Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plasmas meet plasmonics

2012

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Abstract. The term 'plasmon' was first coined in 1956 to describe collective electronic oscillations in solids which were very similar to electronic oscillations/surface waves in a plasma discharge (effectively the same formulae can be used to describe the frequencies of these physical phenomena). Surface waves originating in a plasma were initially considered to be just a tool for basic research, until they were successfully used for the generation of large-area plasmas for nanoscale materials synthesis and processing. To demonstrate the synergies between 'plasmons' and 'plasmas', these large-area plasmas can be used to make plasmonic nanostructures which functionally enhance a range of emerging devices. The incorporation of plasmafabricated metal-based nanostructures into plasmonic devices is the missing link needed to bridge not only surface waves from traditional plasma physics and surface plasmons from optics, but also, more topically, macroscopic gaseous and nanoscale metal plasmas. This article first presents a brief review of surface waves and surface plasmons, then describe how these areas of research may be linked through Plasma Nanoscience showing, by closely looking at the essential physics as well as current and future applications, how everything old, is new, once again.

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Section: Existing and Emerging Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Existing and Emerging Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasmas meet plasmonics

2012

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“…6(a)), the metallic loss accounts for as much as 60% of the total power absorption near resonance (450 nm); major photon energy is lost in the metal, a sobering risk of resonant behavior caused by placing MNPs at a wrong place. 21 …”

Section: Mnps On Top Of a Pv Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The easiness of the application of MNPs on the surface, e.g., by spreading from solution, does not make a case for their use because one might as well spread dielectric nanoparticles for antireflection effect without metallic loss. 21 …”

Section: A Mnps On the Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal nanoparticles in a photovoltaic cell: Effect of metallic loss

Watanabe

Miyano

2011

AIP Advances

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We examined numerically the contribution of contrasting characteristics of metal nanoparticles, strong polarization and metallic loss, to the total efficiency of photovoltaic cells. A layer of nanoparticle array was chosen as a model. We found that depending on the location of the layer in the cell, the metallic loss offsets the enhanced photoabsorption due to the strong near field. A general procedure to reduce a nanoparticle layer into a sheet of effective continuous medium is presented, which greatly facilitates the quantitative analysis

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“…For example, it has recently been discussed how dielectric particles can outperform metallic ones. 11 Hence, dielectric gratings and photonic crystals [12][13][14][15][16] that can excite resonant modes without introducing significant additional absorption are a promising alternative. Further, solar concentration allows larger achievable efficiencies and can lower costs.…”

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confidence: 99%

Dielectric gratings for wide-angle, broadband absorption by thin film photovoltaic cells

Esteban

Laroche

Greffet

2010

Applied Physics Letters

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Optical management is essential to increase absorption in thin photovoltaic cells. In this article, full electromagnetic simulations show that a back mirror and a one-dimensional front SiC sawtooth grating of ∼1 μm dimensions can significantly increase absorption in a thin layer under light concentration. A 50 nm thick GaSb active layer in the described configuration absorbs ∼66% of the incident solar photons above the band gap for a concentration equivalent to a numerical aperture NA=1/2. This absorption represents a ∼76% or 26% increase over the same structure but with the grating removed or substituted by an ideal antireflection coating, respectively.

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Nanoparticle-enhanced thin film solar cells: Metallic or dielectric nanoparticles?

Cited by 160 publications

References 13 publications

Plasmas meet plasmonics

Plasmas meet plasmonics

Metal nanoparticles in a photovoltaic cell: Effect of metallic loss

Dielectric gratings for wide-angle, broadband absorption by thin film photovoltaic cells

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