The scattering from metal nanoparticles near their localized plasmon resonance is a promising way of increasing the light absorption in thin-film solar cells. Enhancements in photocurrent have been observed for a wide range of semiconductors and solar cell configurations. We review experimental and theoretical progress that has been made in recent years, describe the basic mechanisms at work, and provide an outlook on future prospects in this area.

https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/10440/1045/1/Catchpole_Plasmonic2008.pdf

Plasmonic solar cells

Solar photovoltaic electricity: Current status and future prospects

High-performance photovoltaic cells use semiconductors to convert sunlight into clean electrical power, and transparent dielectrics or conductive oxides as antireflection coatings. A common feature of these materials is their high refractive index. Whereas high-index materials in a planar form tend to produce a strong, undesired reflection of sunlight, high-index nanostructures afford new ways to manipulate light at a subwavelength scale. For example, nanoscale wires, particles and voids support strong optical resonances that can enhance and effectively control light absorption and scattering processes. As such, they provide ideal building blocks for novel, broadband antireflection coatings, light-trapping layers and super-absorbing films. This Review discusses some of the recent developments in the design and implementation of such photonic elements in thin-film photovoltaic cells.

/pdf/light-management-for-photovoltaics-using-high-index-2u8o7699oo.pdf

Light management for photovoltaics using high-index nanostructures.

We use a rigorous electromagnetic approach to develop a light-trapping theory, which reveals that the standard limit developed by Yablonovitch can be substantially surpassed in nanophotonic regimes, opening new avenues for highly efficient solar cells

/pdf/fundamental-limit-of-nanophotonic-light-trapping-in-solar-18kh2cgxx1.pdf

Fundamental limit of nanophotonic light-trapping in solar cells

We report on the design, fabrication, and measurement of ultrathin film a-Si:H solar cells with nanostructured plasmonic back contacts, which demonstrate enhanced short circuit current densities compared to cells having flat or randomly textured back contacts. The primary photocurrent enhancement occurs in the spectral range from 550 nm to 800 nm. We use angle-resolved photocurrent spectroscopy to confirm that the enhanced absorption is due to coupling to guided modes supported by the cell. Full-field electromagnetic simulation of the absorption in the active a-Si:H layer agrees well with the experimental results. Furthermore, the nanopatterns were fabricated via an inexpensive, scalable, and precise nanopatterning method. These results should guide design of optimized, non-random nanostructured back reflectors for thin film solar cells.

/pdf/light-trapping-in-ultrathin-plasmonic-solar-cells-1ilxpeujem.pdf

Jiri Springer

Papers

TCO and light trapping in silicon thin film solar cells