The Influence of Embedded Plasmonic Nanostructures on the Optical Absorption of Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract

The interaction of light with plasmonic nanostructures can induce electric field intensity either around or at the surface of the nanostructures. The enhanced intensity of the electric field can increase the probability of light absorption in the active layer of solar cells. The absorption edge of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which is almost 800 nm, can be raised to higher wavelengths with the help of plasmonic nanostructures due to their perfect photovoltaic characteristics. We placed plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with different radii (20–60 nm) within the bulk of the perovskite solar cell and found that the Au nanoparticles with a radius of 60 nm increased the absorption of the cell by 20% compared to the bare one without Au nanoparticles. By increasing the radius of the nanoparticles, the total absorption of the cell will increase because of the scattering enhancement. The results reveal that the best case is the PSC with the NP radius of 60 nm.

Plasmonic–perovskite solar cells, light emitters, and sensors

“…Spherical NPs are used most commonly in PSCs and are usually studied by embedding them in the perovskite layer; one example is shown in Fig. 2a 76 , 77 . Chang et al assessed the optical effects of Cu NPs embedded in a perovskite film by the transfer matrix method (TMM) and three-dimensional finite difference time domain (3D FDTD) method 78 .…”

“… Schematics of plasmonic–perovskite solar cells by incorporating ( a ) Au nanoparticles (NPs). Adapted with permission 76 . Copyright 2019, MPDI.…”

Effect of a Metal–Semiconductor Hetero Nanostructure of Cu/Bi2Se3 on Optical Properties of Perovskite Solar Cells

“…[ 15 ] Additionally, the activation energy, work function, and electron affinity of Bi 2 Se 3 are 0.053, [ 14 ] 5.6, [ 16,17 ] and 5.3 eV, [ 18,19 ] respectively. In general, plasmonic materials can be used to increase the absorption of infrared frequencies in thin film PSCs [ 20 ] because the absorption of PSCs is very low in the near‐infrared region (NIR). [ 21 ] At the edges of nanoparticles, the LSPR effect is dominant, so a high electron density is available at the nanocrystal edges.…”

“…The results for the PSC with Cu/Bi 2 Se 3 NSs show a 51.3% absorption enhancement compared to the PSC without NSs. be used to increase the absorption of infrared frequencies in thin film PSCs [20] because the absorption of PSCs is very low in the near-infrared region (NIR). [21] At the edges of nanoparticles, the LSPR effect is dominant, so a high electron density is available at the nanocrystal edges.…”

Arrays of Plasmonic Nanostructures for Absorption Enhancement in Perovskite Thin Films

“…Therefore, several methods have been proposed to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells, one of which involves the use of surface plasmons. Plasmonic effects could be employed to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] by embedding nanoparticles [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] or plasmonic concentrators [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ] that can increase absorption, especially near the optical band edge of the material. Previous theoretical research has shown that nanohole (NH) or nanodisk (ND) arrays embedded on gold electrodes with a thin layer of MAPbI deposited on them can significantly improve the solar cell PCE by up to ∼10%.…”