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Numerical Study of Plasmonic Effects of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in the Active Layer on Performance Polymer Organic Solar Cells

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Abstract

In this paper, the light absorption in the active layer of polymer solar cells (OPV) by using plasmonic nanocrystals with a hexagonal lattice structure is investigated. To study the relationship between the performance of the OPV solar cell and its active layer, a three-dimensional model of its morphology is utilized. Therefore, the three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain method and Lumerical software were used to measure the field distribution and light absorption in the active layer in terms of wavelength. OPV solar cells with bilayer and bulk heterojunction structured cells were designed using hexagonal lattice crystals with plasmonic nanoparticles, as well as core–shell geometry to govern a design to optimize light trapping in the active layer. The parameters of shape, material, periodicity, size, and the thickness of the active layer as a function of wavelength in OPV solar cells have been investigated. A very thin active layer and an ultra-thin shell were used to achieve the highest increase in optical absorption. The strong alternating electromagnetic field around the core–shell plasmonic nanoparticles resulting from the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) suggested by the Ag plasmonic nanocrystals increased the intrinsic optical absorption in the active layer poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM). Based on the photovoltaic results, the short circuit current ranged from 19.7 to 26.7 mA/cm2.

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Data and Code Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Persian Gulf University Research Council for continuous support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Persian Gulf University, 7516913718, Bushehr, Iran

    Leila Shabani, Ahmad Mohammadi & Tahmineh Jalali

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  1. Leila Shabani
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  2. Ahmad Mohammadi
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Contributions

A. Mohammadi designed and directed the project, and with L. Shabani, contributed to the design and implementation of the research; A. Mohammadi, L. Shabani, T. Jalali contributed to the analysis of the results and to the writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ahmad Mohammadi.

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Shabani, L., Mohammadi, A. & Jalali, T. Numerical Study of Plasmonic Effects of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in the Active Layer on Performance Polymer Organic Solar Cells. Plasmonics 17, 491–504 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-021-01539-x

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