A comprehensive study for the plasmonic thin-film solar cell with periodic structure

Synergetic light trapping effects in organic solar cells with a patterned semi-transparent electrode

We have established new dual light trapping structures that improve the electrical and optical properties of OSCs.

Efficient volumetric method of moments for modeling plasmonic thin-film solar cells with periodic structures

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) support localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs), which enable to concentrate sunlight at the active layer of solar cells. However, full-wave modeling of the plasmonic solar cells faces great challenges in terms of huge computational workload and bad matrix condition. It is tremendously difficult to accurately and efficiently simulate near-field multiple scattering effects from plasmonic NPs embedded into solar cells. In this work, a preconditioned volume integral equation (VIE) is proposed to model plasmonic organic solar cells (OSCs). The diagonal block preconditioner is applied to different material domains of the device structure. As a result, better convergence and higher computing efficiency are achieved. Moreover, the calculation is further accelerated by two-dimensional periodic Green's functions. Using the proposed method, the dependences of optical absorption on the wavelengths and incident angles are investigated. Angular responses of the plasmonic OSCs show the super-Lambertian absorption on the plasmon resonance but near-Lambertian absorption off the plasmon resonance. The volumetric method of moments and explored physical understanding are of great help to investigate the optical responses of OSCs.

Light Manipulation in Organic Photovoltaics

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) hold great promise for next-generation photovoltaics in renewable energy because of the potential to realize low-cost mass production via large-area roll-to-roll printing technologies on flexible substrates. To achieve high-efficiency OPVs, one key issue is to overcome the insufficient photon absorption in organic photoactive layers, since their low carrier mobility limits the film thickness for minimized charge recombination loss. To solve the inherent trade-off between photon absorption and charge transport in OPVs, the optical manipulation of light with novel micro/nano-structures has become an increasingly popular strategy to boost the light harvesting efficiency. In this Review, we make an attempt to capture the recent advances in this area. A survey of light trapping schemes implemented to various functional components and interfaces in OPVs is given and discussed from the viewpoint of plasmonic and photonic resonances, addressing the external antireflection coatings, substrate geometry-induced trapping, the role of electrode design in optical enhancement, as well as optically modifying charge extraction and photoactive layers.

Broadband near-field enhancement in the macro-periodic and micro-random structure with a hybridized excitation of propagating Bloch-plasmonic and localized surface-plasmonic modes

We demonstrate that the silver nanoplate-based macroscopically periodic (macro-periodic) and microscopically random (micro-random) structure has a broadband near-field enhancement as compared to conventional silver gratings. The specific field enhancement in a wide spectral range (from UV to near-infrared) originates from the abundance of localized surface-plasmonic (LSP) modes in the microscopically random distributed silver nanoplates and propagating Bloch-plasmonic (PBP) modes from the macroscopically periodic pattern. The characterization of polarization dependent spectral absorption, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), as well as theoretical simulation was conducted to comprehensively understand the features of the broadband spectrum and highly concentrated near-field. The reported macro-periodic and micro-random structure may offer a new route for the design of plasmonic systems for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

A general design rule to manipulate photocarrier transport path in solar cells and its realization by the plasmonic-electrical effect

It is well known that transport paths of photocarriers (electrons and holes) before collected by electrodes strongly affect bulk recombination and thus electrical properties of solar cells, including open-circuit voltage and fill factor. For boosting device performance, a general design rule, tailored to arbitrary electron to hole mobility ratio, is proposed to decide the transport paths of photocarriers. Due to a unique ability to localize and concentrate light, plasmonics is explored to manipulate photocarrier transport through spatially redistributing light absorption at the active layer of devices. Without changing the active materials, we conceive a plasmonic-electrical concept, which tunes electrical properties of solar cells via the plasmon-modified optical field distribution, to realize the design rule. Incorporating spectrally and spatially configurable metallic nanostructures, thin-film solar cells are theoretically modelled and experimentally fabricated to validate the design rule and verify the plasmonic-tunable electrical properties. The general design rule, together with the plasmonic-electrical effect, contributes to the evolution of emerging photovoltaics.

Breaking the space charge limit in organic solar cells by a novel plasmonic-electrical concept

As a fundamental electrostatic limit, space charge limit (SCL) for photocurrent is a universal phenomenon and of paramount importance for organic semiconductors with unbalanced photocarriers mobility and high exciton generation. Here we proposed a new plasmonic-electrical concept to manipulate electrical properties of organic devices including photocarriers recombination, transport and collection. As a proof-of-concept, organic solar cells (OSCs) comprising metallic planar and grating electrodes are systematically investigated with normal and inverted device structures. Interestingly, although strong plasmonic resonances induce abnormally dense photocarriers around a grating anode, the grating-inverted OSC is exempt from space charge accumulation (limit) and degradation of electrical properties in contrast to the planar-inverted and planar-normal ones. The particular reason is that plasmonically induced photocarriers redistribution shortens the transport path of low-mobility holes, which are collected by the grating anode. The work demonstrated and explained the SCL breaking with the plasmonic-electrical effect. Most importantly, the plasmonic-electrical concept will open up a new way to manipulate both optical and electrical properties of semiconductor devices simultaneously.

Plasmonic nanostructures for light trapping in organic photovoltaic devices

Over the past decade, we have witnessed rapid advances in the development of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). At present, the highest level of efficiency has surpassed 10%, suggesting that OPVs have great potential to become competitive with other thin-film solar technologies. Because plasmonic nanostructures are likely to further improve the efficiency of OPVs, this Article reviews recent progress in the development of metal nanostructures for triggering plasmonic effects in OPVs. First, we briefly describe the physical fundamentals of surface plasmons (SPs). Then, we discuss recent approaches toward increasing the light trapping efficiency of OPVs through the incorporation of plasmonic structures. Finally, we provide a brief outlook into the future use of SPs in highly efficient OPVs.

Organic ternary solar cells: a review

Recently, researchers have paid a great deal of attention to the research and development of organic solar cells, leading to a breakthrough of over 10% power conversion efficiency. Though impressive, further development is required to ensure a bright industrial future for organic photovoltaics. Relatively narrow spectral overlap of organic polymer absorption bands within the solar spectrum is one of the major limitations of organic solar cells. Among different strategies that are in progress to tackle this restriction, the novel concept of ternary organic solar cells is a promising candidate to extend the absorption spectra of large bandgap polymers to the near IR region and to enhance light harvesting in single bulk-heterojunction solar cells. In this contribution, we review the recent developments in organic ternary solar cell research based on various types of sensitizers. In addition, the aspects of miscibility, morphology complexity, charge transfer dynamics as well as carrier transport in ternary organic composites are addressed.

Incorporation of nanovoids into metallic gratings for broadband plasmonic organic solar cells

We present investigation and optimization of a newly proposed plasmonic organic solar cell geometry based on the incorporation of nanovoids into conventional rectangular backplane gratings. Hybridization of strongly localized plasmonic modes of the nanovoids with Fabry-Perot cavity modes originating from surface plasmon reflection at the grating elements is shown to significantly boost performance in the long wavelength regime. This constitutes improved broadband operation while maintaining absorption enhancements at short wavelengths derived from conventional rectangular grating. Our calculations predict a figure of merit enhancement of up to 41% compared to when the nanovoid indented grating is absent. This is a significant improvement over the previously considered rectangular grating structures, which is further shown to be maintained over the entire angular range.

Optical and electrical study of organic solar cells with a 2D grating anode

We investigate both optical and electrical properties of organic solar cells (OSCs) incorporating 2D periodic metallic back grating as an anode. Using a unified finite-difference approach, the multiphysics modeling framework for plasmonic OSCs is established to seamlessly connect the photon absorption with carrier transport and collection by solving the Maxwell's equations and semiconductor equations (Poisson, continuity, and drift-diffusion equations). Due to the excited surface plasmon resonance, the significantly nonuniform and extremely high exciton generation rate near the metallic grating are strongly confirmed by our theoretical model. Remarkably, the nonuniform exciton generation indeed does not induce more recombination loss or smaller open-circuit voltage compared to 1D multilayer standard OSC device. The increased open-circuit voltage and reduced recombination loss by the plasmonic OSC are attributed to direct hole collections at the metallic grating anode with a short transport path. The work provides an important multiphysics understanding for plasmonic organic photovoltaics.

Optical design of organic solar cell with hybrid plasmonic system

We propose a novel optical design of organic solar cell with a hybrid plasmonic system, which comprises a plasmonic cavity coupled with a dielectric core-metal shell nanosphere. From a rigorous solution of Maxwell's equations, called volume integral equation method, optical absorption of the active polymer material has a four-fold increase. The significant enhancement mainly attributes to the coupling of symmetric surface wave modes supported by the cavity resonator. The dispersion relation of the plasmonic cavity is characterized by solving an 1D eigenvalue problem of the air/metal/polymer/metal/air structure with finite thicknesses of metal layers. We demonstrate that the optical enhancement strongly depends on the decay length of surface plasmon waves penetrated into the active material. Furthermore, the coherent interplay between the cavity and the dielectric core-metal shell nanosphere is undoubtedly confirmed by our theoretical model. The work offers detailed physical explanations to the hybrid plasmonic cavity device structure for enhancing the optical absorption of organic photovoltaics.

Large integrated absorption enhancement in plasmonic solar cells by combining metallic gratings and antireflection coatings

We describe an ultrathin solar cell architecture that combines the benefits of both plasmonic photovoltaics and traditional antireflection coatings. Spatially resolved electron generation rates are used to determine the total integrated current improvement under AM1.5G solar illumination, which can reach a factor of 1.8. The frequency-dependent absorption is found to strongly correlate with the occupation of optical modes within the structure, and the improved absorption is mainly attributed to improved coupling to guided modes rather than localized resonant modes.

Angular response of thin-film organic solar cells with periodic metal back nanostrips

We theoretically study the angular response of thin-film organic solar cells with periodic Au back nanostrips. In particular, the equation of the generalized Lambert's cosine law for arbitrary periodic nanostructure is formulated. We show that the periodic strip structure achieves wide-angle absorption enhancement compared with the planar nonstrip structure for both the s- and p-polarized light, which is mainly attributed to the resonant Wood's anomalies and surface plasmon resonances, respectively. The work is important for designing and optimizing high-efficiency photovoltaic cells.

High photoelectric conversion efficiency of metal phthalocyanine/fullerene heterojunction photovoltaic device

This paper introduces the fundamental physical characteristics of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Photoelectric conversion efficiency is crucial to the evaluation of quality in OPV devices, and enhancing efficiency has been spurring on researchers to seek alternatives to this problem. In this paper, we focus on organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices and review several approaches to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of small molecular heterojunction OPV devices based on an optimal metal-phthalocyanine/fullerene (C₆₀) planar heterojunction thin film structure. For the sake of discussion, these mechanisms have been divided into electrical and optical sections: (1) Electrical: Modification on electrodes or active regions to benefit carrier injection, charge transport and exciton dissociation; (2) Optical: Optional architectures or infilling to promote photon confinement and enhance absorption.