Plasmonic nanocavity organic solar cells with highly enhanced power conversion efficiency, broad-band, and omni-acceptance

Wei Ding, Stephen Y. Chou

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Efficient capture of sunlight remains one of the great challenges to photovoltaics today. This is particularly so for the dominant photovoltaic material - crystalline silicon - which, as an indirect gap semiconductor, needs several hundred micrometers thickness for efficient operation. This paper gives an overview of the principal concepts that are currently being considered to enhance light capture by the solar cell. We shall, in particular, compare and contrast two main ideas of thought that underpin the current status of the field. The first, based on thermodynamics, makes use of light trapping where photon path within a structure is extended by virtue of a stochastic photon distribution inside a dielectric / weakly absorbing semiconductor. The second approach rests on the use of sub-wavelength or nano-scale structures which allow the possibility of electromagnetic energy injection into very thin semiconductor layers, by direct interaction with the trapped modes or via the near field of an intermediate dipole absorber or scatterer. We review a range of techniques which are available to reducing the thickness of crystalline silicon solar cells to below 1?m with the use of molecular layers deposited on thin crystalline silicon layers by spin coating, as Langmuir-Blodgett films, or directly anchored to silicon by covalent bonding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2804-2807
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781479943982
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2014
Event40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014 - Denver, United States
Duration: Jun 8 2014Jun 13 2014

Publication series

Name2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014

Other

Other40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver
Period6/8/146/13/14

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Keywords

  • light harvesting
  • light trapping
  • photon tunneling
  • photovoltaic cells
  • silicon

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