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Optical characterisation of a spectrally tunable plasmonic reflector for application in thin film silicon solar cells

Optical characterisation of a spectrally tunable plasmonic reflector for application in thin film silicon solar cells
Optical characterisation of a spectrally tunable plasmonic reflector for application in thin film silicon solar cells
We have investigated the interaction between a random two-dimensional array of Ag islands near a Ag reflector, with the aim of producing a plasmonic back reflector structure with high diffuse reflectivity in the near-infrared, 600–1100 nm wavelength, region. We have demonstrated the ability to tune the power scattered and absorbed by varying the distance between the plasmonic layer and the reflector. Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations demonstrate the tunability of the scattered and absorbed power with separation distance for a single Ag nanosphere near a planar Ag reflector. The tunability of the optical properties can be attributed to the modulation in the electric field driving the plasmonic resonance with separation distance. The simulation results indicate an intermediate distance where the scattered power peaks with minimal absorption losses. Random arrays of metal-islands were fabricated on varying thicknesses of a ZnO separation layer on a Ag reflector. Compared to a conventional textured Ag reflector, which has ?2% diffuse reflectance in the near-infrared spectral region, the fabricated plasmonic reflector with ?200 nm sized Ag metal islands at 100 nm separation distance from the Ag reflector shows a relatively higher, ?24%, integrated diffuse reflectance in the near bandgap, 600–1100 nm wavelength, region for thin film silicon solar cells.
0927-0248
23-30
Sesuraj, Rufina S.A.
2ff818d7-d4d7-4e3a-9cff-8702325ea422
Temple, T.L.
1c5f14df-99d5-438c-b0b3-1f017e17c643
Bagnall, D.M.
5d84abc8-77e5-43f7-97cb-e28533f25ef1
Sesuraj, Rufina S.A.
2ff818d7-d4d7-4e3a-9cff-8702325ea422
Temple, T.L.
1c5f14df-99d5-438c-b0b3-1f017e17c643
Bagnall, D.M.
5d84abc8-77e5-43f7-97cb-e28533f25ef1

Sesuraj, Rufina S.A., Temple, T.L. and Bagnall, D.M. (2013) Optical characterisation of a spectrally tunable plasmonic reflector for application in thin film silicon solar cells. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 111, 23-30. (doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2012.12.015).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We have investigated the interaction between a random two-dimensional array of Ag islands near a Ag reflector, with the aim of producing a plasmonic back reflector structure with high diffuse reflectivity in the near-infrared, 600–1100 nm wavelength, region. We have demonstrated the ability to tune the power scattered and absorbed by varying the distance between the plasmonic layer and the reflector. Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations demonstrate the tunability of the scattered and absorbed power with separation distance for a single Ag nanosphere near a planar Ag reflector. The tunability of the optical properties can be attributed to the modulation in the electric field driving the plasmonic resonance with separation distance. The simulation results indicate an intermediate distance where the scattered power peaks with minimal absorption losses. Random arrays of metal-islands were fabricated on varying thicknesses of a ZnO separation layer on a Ag reflector. Compared to a conventional textured Ag reflector, which has ?2% diffuse reflectance in the near-infrared spectral region, the fabricated plasmonic reflector with ?200 nm sized Ag metal islands at 100 nm separation distance from the Ag reflector shows a relatively higher, ?24%, integrated diffuse reflectance in the near bandgap, 600–1100 nm wavelength, region for thin film silicon solar cells.

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More information

Published date: April 2013
Organisations: Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 347368
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/347368
ISSN: 0927-0248
PURE UUID: 914f1671-891b-4252-ad4b-588e4b71fe5c

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Date deposited: 21 Jan 2013 11:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:47

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Contributors

Author: Rufina S.A. Sesuraj
Author: T.L. Temple
Author: D.M. Bagnall

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