Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T01:48:43.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells With Silver Nanoparticles Embedded Inside the Absorber Layer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Rudi Santbergen ,
Renrong Liang  and
Miro Zeman
Rudi Santbergen
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Renrong Liang
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Miro Zeman
Affiliation:
[email protected], Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Get access

Abstract

A novel light trapping technique for solar cells is based on light scattering by metal nanoparticles through excitation of localized surface plasmons. We investigated the effect of metal nanoparticles embedded inside the absorber layer of amorphous silicon solar cells on the cell performance. The position of the particles inside the absorber layer was varied. Transmission electron microscopy images of the cell devices showed well defined silver nanoparticles, indicating that they survive the embedding procedure. The optical absorption of samples where the silver nanoparticles were embedded in thin amorphous silicon layer showed an enhancement peak around the plasmon resonance of 800 nm. The embedded particles significantly reduce the performance of the fabricated devices. We attribute this to the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in the absorber layer induced by the presence of the silver nanoparticles. Finally we demonstrate that the fabricated solar cells exhibit tandem-like behavior where the silver nanoparticles separate the absorber layer into a top and bottom part.

Keywords

photovoltaicAgnanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1245: Symposium A – Amorphous and Polycrystalline Thin-Film Silicon Science and Technology-2010 , 2010 , 1245-A07-20
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Zeman, Miro, Advanced Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Technology, in Thin Film Solar Cells: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications, p. 173–236, ed Poortmans, s. J. and Archipov, V., Wiley 2006.Google Scholar
2 Krč, J., Zeman, M., Smole, F. and Topič, M., in Amorphous and Polycrystalline Thin-Film Silicon Science and Technology – 2006, edited by Atwater, H.A. Jr, Chu, V., Wagner, S., Yamamoto, K., Zan, H-W., (Mater. Res. Symp. Soc. Proc. 910, Warrendale, PA 2006) A25–01.Google Scholar
3 Atwater, H.A. and Polman, A., Nature Materials, 9, 205–213 (2010)Google Scholar
4 Moulin, E. et al., Journal of Non-Crystaline Solids, 354, 2488–2491 (2008)Google Scholar
5 Temple, T.L. et al., Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 93, 1978–1985 (2009)Google Scholar
6 Mie, G., Annalen der Physik, 25, 377–445 (1908)Google Scholar
7 Bohren, C.F. and Huffman, D.R., Absorption and scattering of light by small particles, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2004 Google Scholar