Enhanced absorption in optically thin solar cells by scattering from embedded dielectric nanoparticles

doi:10.1364/OE.18.00A139

Enhanced absorption in optically thin solar cells by scattering from embedded dielectric nanoparticles

James R. Nagel and Michael A. Scarpulla »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 18, Issue S2, pp. A139-A146 (2010)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.00A139

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Abstract

We present a concept for improving the efficiency of thin-film solar cells via scattering from dielectric particles. The particles are embedded directly within the semiconductor absorber material with sizes on the order of one wavelength. Importantly, this geometry is fully compatible with the use of an anti-reflective coating (ARC) to maximize light capture. The concept is demonstrated through finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations of spherical SiO₂ particles embedded within a 1.0 µm layer of crystalline silicon (c-Si) utilizing a 75 nm ARC of Si₃N₄. Several geometries are presented, with gains in absorbed photon flux occurring in the red end of the spectrum where silicon absorption is weak. The total integrated absorption of incident photon flux across the visible AM-1.5 spectrum is on the order of 5-10% greater than the same geometry without any dielectric scatterers.

OCIS Codes
(310.1210) Thin films : Antireflection coatings
(310.6628) Thin films : Subwavelength structures, nanostructures
(310.6805) Thin films : Theory and design

ToC Category:
Scattering

History
Original Manuscript: April 28, 2010
Revised Manuscript: May 17, 2010
Manuscript Accepted: May 17, 2010
Published: May 19, 2010

Citation
James R. Nagel and Michael A. Scarpulla, "Enhanced absorption in optically thin solar cells by scattering from embedded dielectric nanoparticles," Opt. Express 18, A139-A146 (2010)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-18-S2-A139

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References

C. Seassal, Y. Park, A. Fave, E. Drouard, E. Fourmond, A. Kaminski, M. Lemiti, X. Letartre, and P. Viktorovitch, “Photonic crystal assisted ultra-thin silicon photovoltaic solar cell,” Proc. SPIE 7002, 700207 (2008). [CrossRef]
L. Zeng, Y. Yi, C. Hong, J. Liu, N. Feng, X. Duan, L. C. Kimerling, and B. A. Alamariu, “Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(11), 111111 (2006). [CrossRef]
H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nat. Mater. 9(3), 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. P. Rand, P. Peumans, and S. R. Forrest, “Long-range absorption enhancement in organic tandem thin-film solar cells containing silver nanoclusters,” J. Appl. Phys. 96(12), 7519–7526 (2004). [CrossRef]
P. Matheu, S. H. Lim, D. Derkacs, C. McPheeters, and E. T. Yu, “Metal and dielectric nanoparticle scattering for improved optical absorption in photovoltaic devices,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(11), 113108 (2008). [CrossRef]
Lumerical Solutions, Inc., http://www.lumerical.com/ .
E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic Press, 1998)
A. Meldrum, L. A. Boatner, and C. W. White, “Nanocomposites formed by ion implantation: recent developments and future opportunities,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 178(1-4), 7–16 (2001). [CrossRef]
V. V. Voronkov and R. Falster, “Latent complexes of interstitial boron and oxygen dimers as a reason for degradation of silicon-based solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 107(5), 053509 (2010). [CrossRef]
J. A. Kong, Electromagnetic Wave Theory (EMW Publishing, 2000).
C. F. Bohren, and D. R. Huffman, Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles (John Wiley & Sons, 1983).
D. Derkacs, S. H. Lim, P. Matheu, W. Mar, and E. T. Yu, “Improved performance of amorphous silicon solar cells via scattering from surface plasmon polaritons in nearby metallic nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(9), 093103 (2006). [CrossRef]
D. M. Schaadt, B. Feng, and E. T. Yu, “Enhanced semiconductor optical absorption via surface plasmon excitation in metal nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86(6), 063106 (2005). [CrossRef]

Alamariu, B. A.
Atwater, H. A.
Boatner, L. A.
Derkacs, D.
Drouard, E.
Duan, X.
Falster, R.
Fave, A.
Feng, B.
Feng, N.
Forrest, S. R.
Fourmond, E.
Hong, C.
Kaminski, A.
Kimerling, L. C.
Lemiti, M.
Letartre, X.
Lim, S. H.
Liu, J.
Mar, W.
Matheu, P.
McPheeters, C.
Meldrum, A.
Park, Y.
Peumans, P.
Polman, A.
Rand, B. P.
Schaadt, D. M.
Seassal, C.
Viktorovitch, P.
Voronkov, V. V.
White, C. W.
Yi, Y.
Yu, E. T.
Zeng, L.

Appl. Phys. Lett.

L. Zeng, Y. Yi, C. Hong, J. Liu, N. Feng, X. Duan, L. C. Kimerling, and B. A. Alamariu, “Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(11), 111111 (2006). [CrossRef]
P. Matheu, S. H. Lim, D. Derkacs, C. McPheeters, and E. T. Yu, “Metal and dielectric nanoparticle scattering for improved optical absorption in photovoltaic devices,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(11), 113108 (2008). [CrossRef]
D. Derkacs, S. H. Lim, P. Matheu, W. Mar, and E. T. Yu, “Improved performance of amorphous silicon solar cells via scattering from surface plasmon polaritons in nearby metallic nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(9), 093103 (2006). [CrossRef]
D. M. Schaadt, B. Feng, and E. T. Yu, “Enhanced semiconductor optical absorption via surface plasmon excitation in metal nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86(6), 063106 (2005). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

V. V. Voronkov and R. Falster, “Latent complexes of interstitial boron and oxygen dimers as a reason for degradation of silicon-based solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 107(5), 053509 (2010). [CrossRef]
B. P. Rand, P. Peumans, and S. R. Forrest, “Long-range absorption enhancement in organic tandem thin-film solar cells containing silver nanoclusters,” J. Appl. Phys. 96(12), 7519–7526 (2004). [CrossRef]

Nat. Mater.

H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nat. Mater. 9(3), 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B

A. Meldrum, L. A. Boatner, and C. W. White, “Nanocomposites formed by ion implantation: recent developments and future opportunities,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 178(1-4), 7–16 (2001). [CrossRef]

Proc. SPIE

C. Seassal, Y. Park, A. Fave, E. Drouard, E. Fourmond, A. Kaminski, M. Lemiti, X. Letartre, and P. Viktorovitch, “Photonic crystal assisted ultra-thin silicon photovoltaic solar cell,” Proc. SPIE 7002, 700207 (2008). [CrossRef]

Other

J. A. Kong, Electromagnetic Wave Theory (EMW Publishing, 2000).
C. F. Bohren, and D. R. Huffman, Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles (John Wiley & Sons, 1983).
Lumerical Solutions, Inc., http://www.lumerical.com/ .
E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic Press, 1998)

2010, Atwater, Nat. Mater.
2010, Voronkov, J. Appl. Phys.
2008, Matheu, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2008, Seassal, Proc. SPIE
2006, Zeng, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2006, Derkacs, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2005, Schaadt, Appl. Phys. Lett.
2004, Rand, J. Appl. Phys.
2001, Meldrum, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B

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[1] C. Seassal, Y. Park, A. Fave, E. Drouard, E. Fourmond, A. Kaminski, M. Lemiti, X. Letartre, and P. Viktorovitch, “Photonic crystal assisted ultra-thin silicon photovoltaic solar cell,” Proc. SPIE 7002, 700207 (2008). [CrossRef]

[2] L. Zeng, Y. Yi, C. Hong, J. Liu, N. Feng, X. Duan, L. C. Kimerling, and B. A. Alamariu, “Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(11), 111111 (2006). [CrossRef]

[3] H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nat. Mater. 9(3), 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[4] B. P. Rand, P. Peumans, and S. R. Forrest, “Long-range absorption enhancement in organic tandem thin-film solar cells containing silver nanoclusters,” J. Appl. Phys. 96(12), 7519–7526 (2004). [CrossRef]

[5] P. Matheu, S. H. Lim, D. Derkacs, C. McPheeters, and E. T. Yu, “Metal and dielectric nanoparticle scattering for improved optical absorption in photovoltaic devices,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(11), 113108 (2008). [CrossRef]

[6] Lumerical Solutions, Inc., http://www.lumerical.com/ .

[7] E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic Press, 1998)

[8] A. Meldrum, L. A. Boatner, and C. W. White, “Nanocomposites formed by ion implantation: recent developments and future opportunities,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 178(1-4), 7–16 (2001). [CrossRef]

[9] V. V. Voronkov and R. Falster, “Latent complexes of interstitial boron and oxygen dimers as a reason for degradation of silicon-based solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 107(5), 053509 (2010). [CrossRef]

[10] J. A. Kong, Electromagnetic Wave Theory (EMW Publishing, 2000).

[11] C. F. Bohren, and D. R. Huffman, Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles (John Wiley & Sons, 1983).

[12] D. Derkacs, S. H. Lim, P. Matheu, W. Mar, and E. T. Yu, “Improved performance of amorphous silicon solar cells via scattering from surface plasmon polaritons in nearby metallic nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89(9), 093103 (2006). [CrossRef]

[13] D. M. Schaadt, B. Feng, and E. T. Yu, “Enhanced semiconductor optical absorption via surface plasmon excitation in metal nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 86(6), 063106 (2005). [CrossRef]

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Enhanced absorption in optically thin solar cells by scattering from embedded dielectric nanoparticles