SIMULATION STUDIES OF EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT OF EPITAXIAL THIN FILM SILICON SOLAR CELL BY PLASMONIC NANOSTRUCTURES

 

SIMULATION STUDIES OF EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT OF EPITAXIAL THIN FILM SILICON SOLAR CELL BY PLASMONIC NANOSTRUCTURES

 

 ABSTRACT

Simulation studies of the effects of plasmonic core-shell nanostructures on the performance of thin film silicon solar cell were reported. Six different core-shell nanostructures were studied. They are Ag nanoshell, Au nanoshell, Cu nanoshell, Ag-core SiO2-shell particle, Au-core SiO2-shell particle and Cu-core SiO2-shell particle. The dipole localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) of these nanostructures were tuned to 850 nm (near infrared region) by varying their core diameter. For Ag nanoshell, the core diameter is also varied to obtain LSPR at 807 nm and 927 nm. These predetermined core diameters were then used in the simulation of spectral response, external quantum efficiency, reflection and transmission spectra and I-V characteristics of thin film silicon solar cell in the presence of the core-shell nanostructures. The enhanced near infrared light response of the solar cell was associated to the strong forward scattering and light trapping effect provided by dipolar LSPR of core-shell nanostructures. Ag, Au and Cu nanoshells enhance spectral response of thin film silicon solar cells over broad range of incidence angles of light (30 to 90). After surface coverage optimization, Ag nanoshell with inner radius of 35 nm and outer radius of 45 nm produces the largest enhancement (38.1 % increase) of power conversion efficiency among the nanostructures simulated with power conversion efficiency as high as 9.20% for thin film silicon solar cell with Ag nanoshells.

SIMULASI KAJIAN PENINGKATAN KECEKAPAN SEL SOLAR EPITAKSI FILEM NIPIS SILIKON OLEH NANOSTRUKTUR PLASMONIK

ABSTRAK

Kajian simulasi tentang kesan nanostruktur teras shell plasmonic ke atas prestasi sel solar filem nipis silikon dilaporkan. Enam nanostruktur teras shell yang dikaji ialah Ag nanoshell, Au nanoshell, Cu nanoshell, Ag-teras SiO2-shell zarah, Au-teras SiO2-shell zarah dan Cu-teras SiO2-shell zarah. Dipolar resonants plasmon permukaan (LSPR) nanostrultur telah diubah ke 850 nm (berhampiran kawasan inframerah) dengan mengubah diameter teras. Untuk Ag nanoshell, diameter teras juga diubah untuk mendapatkan LSPR pada 807 nm dan 927 nm. Diameter teras yang telah ditetapkan sebelum ini digunakan dalam simulasi respons spektrum, kecekapan quantum luar, spektrum refleksi dan transmisi dan ciri-ciri IV sel solar filem nipis silikon dengan kehadiran nanostruktur teras shell. Peningkatan respons sel solar terhadap cahaya berhampiran inframerah dikaitkan dengan penyebaran cahaya yang kuat ke hadapan dan kesan memerangkap cahaya yang diperuntukan oleh LSPR dipol struktur-struktur nano teras shell. Ag, Au dan Cu nanoshells meningkatkan respons spektrum sel solar filem nipis silikon dalam julat sudut tuju cahaya yang besar (30 ke 90 ). Selepas pengoptimuman kepadatan permukaan, Ag nanoshell dengan jejari dalaman 35 nm dan jejari luar 45 nm memberikan peningkatan kecekapan penukaran kuasa cahaya terbesar (peningkatan sebanyak 38.1%) di antara nanostruktur yang dikaji. Kecekapan penukaran kuasa cahaya adalah setinggi 9.20% untuk sel solar filem nipis silikon dengan Ag nanoshells.