We report on the effect of arrays of Au nanopillars of controlled size and spacing on the spectral response of a P3HT: PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cell. Prototype nanopillar-patterned devices have nearly the same overall power conversion efficiency as those without nanopillars. The patterned devices do show higher external quantum efficiency and calculated absorption in the wavelength range from approximately 640 nm to 720 nm, where the active layer is not very absorbing. The peak enhancement was approximately 60% at 675 nm. We find evidence that the corresponding resonance involves both localized particle plasmon excitation and multiple reflections/diffraction within the cavity formed by the electrodes. We explore the role of the attenuation coefficient of the active layer on the optical absorption of such an organic photovoltaic device.

© 2010 OSA

1. G. Dennler, M. C. Scharber, and C. J. Brabec, “Polymer-Fullerene Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells,” Adv. Mater. 21(13), 1323–1338 (2009). [CrossRef]
2. H. A. Atwater and A. Polman, “Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices,” Nat. Mater. 9(3), 205–213 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. C. Hagglund, M. Zach, G. Petersson, and B. Kasemo, “Electromagnetic coupling of light into a silicon solar cell by nanodisk plasmons,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(5), 053110 (2008). [CrossRef]
4. C. Hagglund, M. Zach, and B. Kasemo, “Enhanced charge carrier generation in dye sensitized solar cells by nanoparticle plasmons,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(1), 013113 (2008). [CrossRef]
5. V. E. Ferry, M. A. Verschuuren, H. Li, R. E. I. Schropp, H. A. Atwater, and A. Polman, “Improved red-response in thin film a-Si:H solar cells with soft-imprinted plasmonic back reflectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95(18), 183503 (2009). [CrossRef]
6. 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]
7. K. R. Catchpole and A. Polman, “Design principles for particle plasmon enhanced solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(19), 191113 (2008). [CrossRef]
8. F. J. Beck, S. Mokkapati, A. Polman, and K. R. Catchpole, “Asymmetry in photocurrent enhancement by plasmonic nanoparticle arrays located on the front or on the rear of solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 96(3), 033113 (2010). [CrossRef]
9. K. R. Catchpole and A. Polman, “Plasmonic solar cells,” Opt. Express 16(26), 21793–21800 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. S. Pillai, K. R. Catchpole, T. Trupke, and M. A. Green, “Surface plasmon enhanced silicon solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 101(9), 093105 (2007). [CrossRef]
11. R. A. Pala, J. White, E. Barnard, J. Liu, and M. L. Brongersma, “Design of Plasmonic Thin-Film Solar Cells with Broadband Absorption Enhancements,” Adv. Mater. 21(34), 3504–3509 (2009). [CrossRef]
12. J. H. Lee, J. H. Park, J. S. Kim, D. Y. Lee, and K. Cho, “High efficiency polymer solar cells with wet deposited plasmonic gold nanodots,” Org. Electron. 10(3), 416–420 (2009). [CrossRef]
13. S. S. Kim, S. I. Na, J. Jo, D. Y. Kim, and Y. C. Nah, “Plasmon enhanced performance of organic solar cells using electrodeposited Ag nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(7), 073307 (2008). [CrossRef]
14. T. H. Reilly, J. van de Lagemaat, R. C. Tenent, A. J. Morfa, and K. L. Rowlen, “Surface-plasmon enhanced transparent electrodes in organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(24), 243304 (2008). [CrossRef]
15. M. Westphalen, U. Kreibig, J. Rostalski, H. Luth, and D. Meissner, “Metal cluster enhanced organic solar cells,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 61(1), 97–105 (2000). [CrossRef]
16. Y. Kim, M. Ballarotto, D. Park, M. Du, W. Cao, C. H. Lee, W. N. Herman, and D. B. Romero, “Interface effects on the external quantum efficiency of organic bulk heterojunction photodetectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91(19), 193510 (2007). [CrossRef]
17. A. J. Morfa, K. L. Rowlen, T. H. Reilly, M. J. Romero, and J. van de Lagemaat, “Plasmon-enhanced solar energy conversion in organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(1), 013504 (2008). [CrossRef]
18. 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]
19. D. Duche, P. Torchio, L. Escoubas, F. Monestier, J. J. Simon, F. Flory, and G. Mathian, “Improving light absorption in organic solar cells by plasmonic contribution,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 93(8), 1377–1382 (2009). [CrossRef]
20. H. H. Shen, P. Bienstman, and B. Maes, “Plasmonic absorption enhancement in organic solar cells with thin active layers,” J. Appl. Phys. 106(7), 073109 (2009). [CrossRef]
21. T. D. Corrigan, S. H. Guo, H. Szmacinski, and R. J. Phaneuf, “Systematic study of the size and spacing dependence of Ag nanoparticle enhanced fluorescence using electron-beam lithography,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88(10), 101112 (2006). [CrossRef]
22. K. Lee, J. Y. Kim, S. H. Park, S. H. Kim, S. Cho, and A. J. Heeger, “Air-stable polymer electronic devices,” Adv. Mater. 19(18), 2445–2449 (2007). [CrossRef]
23. P. Schilinsky, C. Waldauf, and C. J. Brabec, “Recombination and loss analysis in polythiophene based bulk heterojunction photodetectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(20), 3885 (2002). [CrossRef]
24. G. F. Burkhard, E. T. Hoke, S. R. Scully, and M. D. McGehee, “Incomplete exciton harvesting from fullerenes in bulk heterojunction solar cells,” Nano Lett. 9(12), 4037–4041 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. I. Zudans, W. R. Heineman, and C. J. Seliskar, “In situ measurements of chemical sensor film dynamics by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Three case studies,” Thin Solid Films 455-456, 710–715 (2004). [CrossRef]
26. P. B. Johnson and R. W. Christy, “Optical-Constants of Noble-Metals,” Phys. Rev. B 6(12), 4370–4379 (1972). [CrossRef]
27. J. T. Rantala and A. H. O. Kärkkäinen, “Optical properties of spin-on deposited low temperature titanium oxide thin films,” Opt. Express 11(12), 1406–1410 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
28. D. Y. Smith, E. Shiles, and M. Inokuti, “The optical properties of metallic Aluminum, ” in Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, D. Palik, ed., (Academic Press, Orlando, 1985), pp. 369–406.
29. K. S. Yee, “Numerical solutions of initial boundary value problems involving Maxwell's equations in isotropic media,” IEEE Trans. Antenn. Propag. 14(3), 302–307 (1966). [CrossRef]
30. A. Neureuther, TEMPEST FDTD software developed by Univ. of California at Berkeley.
31. P. B. Johnson and R. W. Christy, “Optical-Constants of Transition-Metals - Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Pd,” Phys. Rev. B 9(12), 5056–5070 (1974). [CrossRef]

Adv. Mater.

• G. Dennler, M. C. Scharber, and C. J. Brabec, “Polymer-Fullerene Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells,” Adv. Mater. 21(13), 1323–1338 (2009). [CrossRef]
• R. A. Pala, J. White, E. Barnard, J. Liu, and M. L. Brongersma, “Design of Plasmonic Thin-Film Solar Cells with Broadband Absorption Enhancements,” Adv. Mater. 21(34), 3504–3509 (2009). [CrossRef]
• K. Lee, J. Y. Kim, S. H. Park, S. H. Kim, S. Cho, and A. J. Heeger, “Air-stable polymer electronic devices,” Adv. Mater. 19(18), 2445–2449 (2007). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• P. Schilinsky, C. Waldauf, and C. J. Brabec, “Recombination and loss analysis in polythiophene based bulk heterojunction photodetectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 81(20), 3885 (2002). [CrossRef]
• T. D. Corrigan, S. H. Guo, H. Szmacinski, and R. J. Phaneuf, “Systematic study of the size and spacing dependence of Ag nanoparticle enhanced fluorescence using electron-beam lithography,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88(10), 101112 (2006). [CrossRef]
• C. Hagglund, M. Zach, G. Petersson, and B. Kasemo, “Electromagnetic coupling of light into a silicon solar cell by nanodisk plasmons,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(5), 053110 (2008). [CrossRef]
• C. Hagglund, M. Zach, and B. Kasemo, “Enhanced charge carrier generation in dye sensitized solar cells by nanoparticle plasmons,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(1), 013113 (2008). [CrossRef]
• V. E. Ferry, M. A. Verschuuren, H. Li, R. E. I. Schropp, H. A. Atwater, and A. Polman, “Improved red-response in thin film a-Si:H solar cells with soft-imprinted plasmonic back reflectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 95(18), 183503 (2009). [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]
• K. R. Catchpole and A. Polman, “Design principles for particle plasmon enhanced solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(19), 191113 (2008). [CrossRef]
• F. J. Beck, S. Mokkapati, A. Polman, and K. R. Catchpole, “Asymmetry in photocurrent enhancement by plasmonic nanoparticle arrays located on the front or on the rear of solar cells,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 96(3), 033113 (2010). [CrossRef]
• Y. Kim, M. Ballarotto, D. Park, M. Du, W. Cao, C. H. Lee, W. N. Herman, and D. B. Romero, “Interface effects on the external quantum efficiency of organic bulk heterojunction photodetectors,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91(19), 193510 (2007). [CrossRef]
• A. J. Morfa, K. L. Rowlen, T. H. Reilly, M. J. Romero, and J. van de Lagemaat, “Plasmon-enhanced solar energy conversion in organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(1), 013504 (2008). [CrossRef]
• S. S. Kim, S. I. Na, J. Jo, D. Y. Kim, and Y. C. Nah, “Plasmon enhanced performance of organic solar cells using electrodeposited Ag nanoparticles,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(7), 073307 (2008). [CrossRef]
• T. H. Reilly, J. van de Lagemaat, R. C. Tenent, A. J. Morfa, and K. L. Rowlen, “Surface-plasmon enhanced transparent electrodes in organic photovoltaics,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(24), 243304 (2008). [CrossRef]

IEEE Trans. Antenn. Propag.

• K. S. Yee, “Numerical solutions of initial boundary value problems involving Maxwell's equations in isotropic media,” IEEE Trans. Antenn. Propag. 14(3), 302–307 (1966). [CrossRef]

J. Appl. Phys.

• S. Pillai, K. R. Catchpole, T. Trupke, and M. A. Green, “Surface plasmon enhanced silicon solar cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 101(9), 093105 (2007). [CrossRef]
• H. H. Shen, P. Bienstman, and B. Maes, “Plasmonic absorption enhancement in organic solar cells with thin active layers,” J. Appl. Phys. 106(7), 073109 (2009). [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]

Nano Lett.

• G. F. Burkhard, E. T. Hoke, S. R. Scully, and M. D. McGehee, “Incomplete exciton harvesting from fullerenes in bulk heterojunction solar cells,” Nano Lett. 9(12), 4037–4041 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Mater.

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

Opt. Express

• K. R. Catchpole and A. Polman, “Plasmonic solar cells,” Opt. Express 16(26), 21793–21800 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. T. Rantala and A. H. O. Kärkkäinen, “Optical properties of spin-on deposited low temperature titanium oxide thin films,” Opt. Express 11(12), 1406–1410 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Org. Electron.

• J. H. Lee, J. H. Park, J. S. Kim, D. Y. Lee, and K. Cho, “High efficiency polymer solar cells with wet deposited plasmonic gold nanodots,” Org. Electron. 10(3), 416–420 (2009). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. B

• P. B. Johnson and R. W. Christy, “Optical-Constants of Noble-Metals,” Phys. Rev. B 6(12), 4370–4379 (1972). [CrossRef]
• P. B. Johnson and R. W. Christy, “Optical-Constants of Transition-Metals - Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Pd,” Phys. Rev. B 9(12), 5056–5070 (1974). [CrossRef]

Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells

• D. Duche, P. Torchio, L. Escoubas, F. Monestier, J. J. Simon, F. Flory, and G. Mathian, “Improving light absorption in organic solar cells by plasmonic contribution,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 93(8), 1377–1382 (2009). [CrossRef]
• M. Westphalen, U. Kreibig, J. Rostalski, H. Luth, and D. Meissner, “Metal cluster enhanced organic solar cells,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 61(1), 97–105 (2000). [CrossRef]

Thin Solid Films

• I. Zudans, W. R. Heineman, and C. J. Seliskar, “In situ measurements of chemical sensor film dynamics by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Three case studies,” Thin Solid Films 455-456, 710–715 (2004). [CrossRef]

Other

• D. Y. Smith, E. Shiles, and M. Inokuti, “The optical properties of metallic Aluminum, ” in Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, D. Palik, ed., (Academic Press, Orlando, 1985), pp. 369–406.
• A. Neureuther, TEMPEST FDTD software developed by Univ. of California at Berkeley.

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