Resonant enhancement of metal nanoparticle arrays fabricated with nanoimprint lithography

Er-Chien Wang, Thomas White, Thomas Soderstorm, Sergey Varlamov, Kylie Catchpole

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    Plasmonic effects on metal particles are a promising way of trapping light in solar cells. We experimentally demonstrate enhanced absorptance in thin silicon using metal nanoparticle arrays in conjunction with a rear mirror. The nanoimprint process is a fast and scaleable method for producing nanoscale light trapping structures. Incorporating both nanoparticle arrays and a rear mirror leads to a substantial increase in absorptance, due to resonant interference effects. We numerically simulate a planar Ag mirror deposited onto a planarized sol-gel silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer, and show the enhancement could reach 53%. We also find that a conformal Ag mirror deposited on a sputtered SiO2 layer could give similar enhancement. Experimentally, we derive predicted Jsc enhancements of up to 2.8 mA/cm2 from absorptance measurements. The experimental results show good qualitative agreement with numerical simulations as the thickness is increased, with clear evidence of absorptance enhancement via a Fabry-Perot resonance effect.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
    Place of PublicationMunich Germany
    PublisherWIP-Renewable Energies
    Pages2678 - 2683
    EditionPeer Reviewed
    ISBN (Print)3936338337
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013
    Event28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition 2013 - Paris France
    Duration: 1 Jan 2013 → …
    http://www.eupvsec-proceedings.com/

    Conference

    Conference28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition 2013
    Period1/01/13 → …
    OtherSeptember 30-October 4 2013
    Internet address

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