Low cost and high performance Al nanoparticles for broadband light trapping in Si wafer solar cells

Abstract

In this paper low cost and earth abundant Al nanoparticles are simulated and compared with noble metal nanoparticles Ag and Au for plasmonic light trapping in Si wafer solar cells. It has been found tailored Al nanoparticles enable broadband light trapping leading to a 28.7% photon absorption enhancement in Si wafers, which is much larger than that induced by Ag or Au. Once combined with the SiN x anti-reflection coating, Al nanoparticles can produce a 42.5% enhancement, which is 4.3% higher than the standard SiN x due to the increased absorption in both the blue and near-infrared regions. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.