Tunable Broadband Solar Energy Absorber Based on Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Materials Using Au Nanocubes.

Jiakun Li,Pinghui Wu,Xifang Chen,Tao Duan,Zeqiang Chen,Zao Yi,Hua Yang,Gongfa Li,Yougen Yi,Weitang Yao

doi:10.3390/nano10020257

Abstract

In order to significantly enhance the absorption capability of solar energy absorbers in the visible wavelength region, a novel monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based nanostructure was proposed. Local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) supported by Au nanocubes (NCs) can improve the absorption of monolayer MoS2. A theoretical simulation by a finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) shows that the absorptions of proposed MoS2-based absorbers are above 94.0% and 99.7% at the resonant wavelengths of 422 and 545 nm, respectively. In addition, the optical properties of the proposed nanostructure can be tuned by the geometric parameters of the periodic Au nanocubes array, distributed Bragg mirror (DBR) and polarization angle of the incident light, which are of great pragmatic significance for improving the absorption efficiency and selectivity of monolayer MoS2. The absorber is also able to withstand a wide range of incident angles, showing polarization-independence. Similar design ideas can also be implemented to other transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) to strengthen the interaction between light and MoS2. This nanostructure is relatively simple to implement and has a potentially important application value in the development of high-efficiency solar energy absorbers and other optoelectronic devices.

Highlights

As important energy collection devices, solar energy absorbers have attracted more and more attention in recent years [1,2,3]
We proposed a new method to enhance the absorption of monolayer MoS2 by using distributed Bragg mirror (DBR) as the substrate and combining with Au NCs periodic array nanostructures
A novel nanostructure composed of a periodic Au NCs array and distributed Bragg mirror (DBRA) fnoorvaelmnoannoolsatyruerctMuroeSc2 owmapsopserodpoofseadpteorieondhicanAceu LNSCPRs sa.rBrayytahneodredtiisctarlibcuatlecudlaBtrioagngs, mit iwrroasrnsfotrrataedmtohnaotltahyeecroMmobSin2 awtiaosnporfoapmosoendoltaoyeenrhManoSce2 wLiStPhRasn

Summary

Introduction

As important energy collection devices, solar energy absorbers have attracted more and more attention in recent years [1,2,3]. Monolayer TMDCs are regarded as a kind of semiconductor material and have a direct bandgap at the K points of the Brillouin zone [36], which means only energy will change in the transition process while the momentum remains unchanged. This process only needs the participation of photons and does not require additional phonons, which makes it much easier to generate and has a higher quantum efficiency. We proposed a new method to enhance the absorption of monolayer MoS2 by using distributed Bragg mirror (DBR) as the substrate and combining with Au NCs periodic array nanostructures. Abrdodaditbioannadllsyo,ltahrreonuegrhgyouabrstohreboerrewticoarlkcinalgcuinlatthioenv,isoitbhlerbTaMndDwCams oabtetarianlesdb. eAsidddeistiMonoaSll2y, ,stuhcrhouagshWoSu2r, MtheooSree2t,icaanl dcalWcuSlaet2i,onc,aonthaelrsToMbDeCumseadterinalstbheissidneasnMosotSru2,csturceh. aTs hWesSe2, MreosuSlet2s, ainnddiWcaSte2,thcaant atlhsoe pbelausmseodni-nenthhiasnncaendonsatrnuocstturruec.tTurheesseharevseuwltsidiendaipcpaltiecathbailtityheinptlhasemefofnic-ieennhtasnoclaerdennaenrgosytraubcstourrpetsiohnavoef wtwido-edaimppelnicsaiobnilaitlyminattehreiaelsffi. cient solar energy absorption of two-dimensional materials

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Conclusions

Findings