Surface plasmon enhanced infrared absorption in the sensitized polymer solar cell

We have theoretically demonstrated an enhanced infrared absorption of the sensitizer in ternary polymer solar cell by introducing silver gratings at the back metal electrode. A combined model which incorporates the complex optical absorption profile and the electrical transport of the generated charge carriers was successfully developed. Using this model, we considered Si-PCPDTBT as an infrared sensitizer for P3HT:ICBA bulk heterojunction solar cells. A silver grating feature was optimized to produce a highly localized optical field inside the active polymer layer and enhance the infrared absorption of the sensitizer. Finally, an overall short-circuit current enhancement of about 40% is obtained theoretically.