Plasmonic Solar Cells with Embedded Silver Nanoparticles from Vapor Condensation

ABSTRACTThe use of plasmonic nanoparticles as light scattering elements for light trapping in solar cells is studied. From theoretical considerations it follows that Ag particles with a diameter on the order of 100 nm possess ideal light scattering properties. It is demonstrated that these particles can be fabricated using the selective aerosol deposition technique. Because this newly developed technique provides excellent control over critical parameters such as particle size and surface coverage it is a valuable tool for optimizing plasmonic solar cells. The initial experiments show that embedding Ag particles with a diameter of 180 nm into amorphous silicon solar cells enhances the current output.