Recent Progress in Design of Plasmonic Thin-Film Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency

Abstract

Plasmonics is concerned with the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and conduction electrons at metallic/dielectric interfaces and has been a hot research area since 2000. Plasmonics is now attracting more research activities because a plasmonic nanostructure is one of the most promising candidates to serve as the light scattering and trapping agent to reduce the physical thickness of current solar cells while maintaining the optical thickness. In this patents review, we describe the basic mechanisms of plasmonic thin-film solar cells, summarize the common design and fabrication techniques, and discuss the future prospects.

Enhanced Photoactivity and Hydrogen Generation of LaFeO3 Photocathode by Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticle Incorporation

“…Light-driven oscillations of conduction electrons cause oscillating dipoles, and the right wavelengths excite strong SPR in metallic nanoparticles. 24 SPR in smaller nanoparticles results in higher surface electromagnetic fields and hence higher scattering cross-section, much larger than the geometric cross-section. 25 The enhanced electromagnetic field is dependent upon the wavelength of the incident light, the shape, the size, and the aggregation state of the nanoparticles.…”

“…Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been considered as one of the best strategies to improve light harvesting capabilities of semiconductor materials. , Noble metals (e.g., gold − and silver , ) have the potential of enhancing optical absorption and scattering by excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), thus improving light harvesting capabilities. Light-driven oscillations of conduction electrons cause oscillating dipoles, and the right wavelengths excite strong SPR in metallic nanoparticles . SPR in smaller nanoparticles results in higher surface electromagnetic fields and hence higher scattering cross-section, much larger than the geometric cross-section .…”