Numerical Simulation of Solar Cell Plasmonics for Small and Large Metal Nano Clusters Using Discrete Dipole Approximation

Abstract

We suggest a numerical model for nano-modified plasmonic optical structure, which facilitates photons to travel larger distances inside a thin-film silicon wafer, to enhance overall absorption in thin-film silicon solar cell. The absorption and scattering calculation is done using the discrete dipole approximation technique which is valid for both small and large-particle regimes. Relaxed geometrical topologies beyond quasi static approximation were addressed in the present model. The model gives a wide range of flexibility to optimize various parameters accurately. The model establishes that aspect ratio 0.5–0.6 and particle size of 140 nm for ellipsoidal shape are optimized parameters for efficient light trapping in 900–1,100 nm spectral range.