title: A light-trapping strategy for nanocrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells using three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures.
abstract: We report three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures inducing multiple plasmon resonances for broadband light harvesting in nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film solar cells. A three-dimensional multiscale (3DM) assembly of nanoparticles generated using a multi-pin spark discharge method has been accomplished over a large area under atmospheric conditions via ion-assisted aerosol lithography. The multiscale features of the sophisticated 3DM structures exhibit surface plasmon resonances at multiple frequencies, which increase light scattering and absorption efficiency over a wide spectral range from 350-1100 nm. The multiple plasmon resonances, together with the antireflection functionality arising from the conformally deposited top surface of the 3D solar cell, lead to a 22% and an 11% improvement in power conversion efficiency of the nc-Si:H thin-film solar cells compared to flat cells and cells employing nanoparticle clusters, respectively. Finite-difference time-domain simulations were also carried out to confirm that the improved device performance mainly originates from the multiple plasmon resonances generated from three-dimensionally assembled nanoparticle structures.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea. Global Frontier Center for Multiscale Energy System, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungyeon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Eunseok
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Segeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong-Kwon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hoseop
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Mansoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi