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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 25 — Dec. 3, 2012
  • pp: 27327–27336

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 25 > Page 27327

Plasmonic nano-antenna a-Si:H solar cell

Marcel Di Vece, Yinghuan Kuang, Stephan N.F. van Duren, Jamie M. Charry, Lourens van Dijk, and Ruud E.I. Schropp  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 25, pp. 27327-27336 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.027327


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Abstract

In this work the effects of plasmonics, nano-focusing, and orthogonalization of carrier and photon pathways are simultaneously explored by measuring the photocurrents in an elongated nano-scale solar cell with a silver nanoneedle inside. The silver nanoneedles formed the support of a conformally grown hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) n-i-p junction around it. A spherical morphology of the solar cell functions as a nano-lens, focusing incoming light directly on the silver nanoneedle. We found that plasmonics, geometric optics, and Fresnel reflections affect the nanostructured solar cell performance, depending strongly on light incidence angle and polarization. This provides valuable insight in solar cell processes in which novel concepts such as plasmonics, elongated nanostructures, and nano-lenses are used.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(310.0310) Thin films : Thin films
(160.4236) Materials : Nanomaterials
(220.4241) Optical design and fabrication : Nanostructure fabrication
(160.5335) Materials : Photosensitive materials

ToC Category:
Solar Energy

History
Original Manuscript: November 1, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: November 2, 2012
Published: November 20, 2012

Citation
Marcel Di Vece, Yinghuan Kuang, Stephan N.F. van Duren, Jamie M. Charry, Lourens van Dijk, and Ruud E.I. Schropp, "Plasmonic nano-antenna a-Si:H solar cell," Opt. Express 20, 27327-27336 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-25-27327


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