Title :
Plasmonic effects in microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells
Author :
Jovanov, Vladislav ; Dewan, Rahul ; Palanchoke, Ujwol ; Knipp, Dietmar
Author_Institution :
Res. Center for Functional Mater. & Nanomolecular Sci., Jacobs Univ. Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Abstract :
Plasmonic effects in microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells with textured front contacts and back reflectors were investigated. Nanotexturing of the front contact of the thin film-solar cell leads to enhanced light trapping, while the nanotextured back reflector allows for the formation of localized plasmonic resonances, which partially contribute to light scattering and partially to optical losses. The interplay between light trapping and plasmonic losses was investigated and strategy will be presented to tune surface plasmon resonances and increase the short circuit current and quantum efficiency.
Keywords :
elemental semiconductors; light scattering; optical elements; plasmonics; radiation pressure; semiconductor thin films; short-circuit currents; silicon; solar cells; surface plasmon resonance; enhanced light trapping; light scattering; localized plasmonic resonance; microcrystalline silicon thin film solar cell; nanotextured back reflector; optical loss; plasmonic effect; plasmonic loss; quantum efficiency; short circuit current; surface plasmon resonance; Optical losses; Optical reflection; Photovoltaic cells; Plasmons; Short circuit currents; Silicon; Zinc oxide; light trapping; plasmonic effects; thin-film solar cell;
Conference_Titel :
Photonics Conference (PHO), 2011 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Arlington, VA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-8940-4
DOI :
10.1109/PHO.2011.6110803
