Plasmon‐Enhanced Silicon Nanowire Array‐Based Hybrid Heterojunction Solar Cells. Issue 7 (6th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Banerjee, Debika; Guo, Xiaohang; Cloutier, Sylvain G.
• Is Part Of: Solar RRL. Volume 2:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-04-06
• Subjects: galvanic displacement method -- hybrid heterojunctions -- plasmons -- silicon nanowires -- solar cells; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Periodicals; Solar energy -- Research -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Research -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 333.7923
• DOI: 10.1002/solr.201800007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2367-198X

Abstract

Abstract : In the last decade, freestanding, single crystal silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have attracted significant attention as a potential material for low‐cost optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we demonstrate how strong localized surface plasmon modes, induced using silver nanoparticles, can be used to achieve significant improvement in a simple hybrid organic–inorganic photovoltaic device between n‐type silicon nanowires and poly(3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly‐(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). At photon energies above plasmon resonance, metallic nanoparticle‐induced absorption leads to a dramatic reduction of the reflectivity and we report a significant improvement in both the short circuit current density ( J sc ) and the open circuit voltage ( V oc ). This leads to an overall 52% increase in the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the photovoltaic devices when decorating the SiNWs with silver nanoparticles prior to PEDOT:PSS deposition. Abstract : Controlling the cleaning protocol of galvanic displacement method (GDM) to leave minute amounts of Ag nanoparticles attached to the silicon nanowires before coating with solvent treated PEDOT:PSS leads to a significant improvement in short circuit current density and open circuit voltage resulting in 52% overall improvement in the power conversion efficiencies of the photovoltaic devices.