An optimized surface plasmon photovoltaic structure using energy transfer between discrete nano-particles

Opt Express. 2013 Jan 14:21 Suppl 1:A131-45. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.00A131.

Abstract

Surface plasmon enhancement has been proposed as a way to achieve higher absorption for thin-film photovoltaics, where surface plasmon polariton(SPP) and localized surface plasmon (LSP) are shown to provide dense near field and far field light scattering. Here it is shown that controlled far-field light scattering can be achieved using successive coupling between surface plasmonic (SP) nano-particles. Through genetic algorithm (GA) optimization, energy transfer between discrete nano-particles (ETDNP) is identified, which enhances solar cell efficiency. The optimized energy transfer structure acts like lumped-element transmission line and can properly alter the direction of photon flow. Increased in-plane component of wavevector is thus achieved and photon path length is extended. In addition, Wood-Rayleigh anomaly, at which transmission minimum occurs, is avoided through GA optimization. Optimized energy transfer structure provides 46.95% improvement over baseline planar cell. It achieves larger angular scattering capability compared to conventional surface plasmon polariton back reflector structure and index-guided structure due to SP energy transfer through mode coupling. Via SP mediated energy transfer, an alternative way to control the light flow inside thin-film is proposed, which can be more efficient than conventional index-guided mode using total internal reflection (TIR).

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equipment Design
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation*
  • Solar Energy*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*