Systematic approach of nanoparticle design to enhance the broadband plasmonic scattering effect

Journal Article · Wed May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4875660· OSTI ID:22275571

Byun, Soohwan; Yong Lee, Hak ^[1]; Yoo, Jeonghoon ^[2]

---

1. Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of)
2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of)

To overcome low conversion efficiency of thin film solar cells, using the localized surface plasmon effect caused by the interaction between the incident beam and metallic nanoparticles inserted in or on the absorbing layer can be a promising alternative to overcome the low efficiency problem. Detail shape and size of nanoparticles are directly related with the localized surface plasmon effect as well as optical properties; however, their detail shape and size are hard to be determined depending only on the theoretical or experimental approach. Therefore, the method focusing on defining structural boundaries would be a useful method for nano or microscale design to generate simple and clear shape. In this study, we adopted the structural optimization scheme based on the phase field method to determine the optimal shape of a silver (Ag) nanoparticle positioned on the upper surface of the absorbing layer. We carried out the design process for broadband wavelength to be taken into account and verified the plasmonic scattering effect enhancement in the absorbing layer by numerical simulations.

• OSTI ID: 22275571
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 18; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DESIGN
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LAYERS
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PLASMONS
SCATTERING
SILVER
SOLAR CELLS
SURFACES
THIN FILMS