Abstract
Plasmonic structures may improve cell performance in a variety of ways. More accurate determining of the optical influence, unlike ideal simulations, requires modeling closer to experimental cases. In this modeling and simulation, irregular nanostructures were chosen and divided into three groups and some modes. For each mode, different sizes of nanoparticles were randomly selected, which could result in pre-determined average particle size and standard deviation. By 3D finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD), the optical plasmonic properties of that mode in a solar cell structure were investigated when the nanostructure was added to the buffer/active layer of the organic solar cell. The far- and near-field results were used to compare the plasmonic behavior, relying on the material and geometry. By detailed simulations, Al and Ag nanostructure at the interface of the ZnO/active layer can improve organic solar cell performance optically, especially by the near-field effect. Unlike Au and relative Ag, the Al nanostructured sample showed less parasitic absorption loss.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10825-021-01829-x.
Highlights
Crises may always arise in human society and pose serious emergencies to us
The results indicated that metallic NPs could induce local surface plasmon resonance among themselves or scatter light [7]
Beyond evaluating the absorption enhancement factor, Schuster et al proposed a figure of merit called lighttrapping efficiency (LTE), the ratio of the total current gain achieved in a device to the theoretical maximum current gain achievable in an ideal Lambertian scattering system
Summary
Crises may always arise in human society and pose serious emergencies to us. One example is the spread of the COVID-19 virus in 2020. Concerning plasmonic NSs in solar cell technology (especially in the active layer) apart from light trapping, two other issues have been considered: (1) detailed balance limit, (2) concept of optical metamaterial (or effective medium theory). MNSs with various sizes and morphologies have been generally used in photovoltaics to activate plasmonic consequences [21] Depending on their position inside OPV, it usually leads to three conventional optical mechanisms, namely (1) light scattering, (2) LSPR, (3) surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). To better clarify the plasmonic effect, the near- and far-field simulated results of Ag and Au NSs (with a similar structure) were compared with Al. Beyond evaluating the absorption enhancement factor, Schuster et al proposed a figure of merit called lighttrapping efficiency (LTE), the ratio of the total current gain achieved in a device to the theoretical maximum current gain achievable in an ideal Lambertian scattering system. The outcome of this research could help in determining the optical effect of Al, Ag, and Au NSs in a variety of solar cells, such as dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells
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