Open AccessThe tradeoff between plasmonic enhancement and optical loss in silicon nanowire solar cells integrated in a metal back reflector
Author(s) -
Keya Zhou,
Zhongyi Guo,
Xiaopeng Li,
JinWoo Jung,
Sang-Won Jee,
Kwang-Tae Park,
HanDon Um,
Ning Wang,
Jung-Ho Lee
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.00a777
Subject(s) - materials science , reflector (photography) , plasmon , optics , silicon , optoelectronics , plasmonic solar cell , solar cell , nanowire , polymer solar cell , physics , light source
We perform a systematic numerical study to characterize the tradeoff between the plasmonic enhancement and optical loss in periodically aligned, silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays integrated with a silver back reflector (Ag BR). Optimizing the embedded depth of the wire bottoms into a silver reflector achieved a highly efficient SiNW solar cell. Compared to the SiNW solar cell employing a flat back reflector, the embedded depth of ~20 nm resulted in the relative increase of ~5% in ultimate solar cell efficiency.