Optical-electrical-thermal optimization of plasmon enhanced solar cell

Modeling of plasmonic solar cells (PSC) is critical for assessing the geometrical and operating conditions for optimized optical-electrical-thermal performance. For this purpose, a novel multi-physics model for plasmonic Schottky solar cell (PSSC), decorated with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) onto a thin silicon absorber, is developed. Notably, the modeling framework presented here is crucial for the solar cell field as currently no multi-scale multi-physics model is available for coupling optical, electrical, and thermal response of PSSC, simultaneously. The multi-physics influence of variable distribution of Au-NPs defined by size and radius is studied. For optimal electrical performance, parametric analysis is conducted for variable system sizes, namely (3×3, 5×5, 7×7), and radii of NP varying from 10 to 150 nm. Total spectral heat absorbed is obtained by integrating total spectral heating from 300 nm to 1200 nm. The optimum performance for a device, with 70 nm radius and 5x5 NPs array, revealed a maximum short circuit current gain of about 47 % when compared to bare silicon solar cell. However, this electrical boost is opposed by significant thermal gains in NPs, up to 182.5% Generally, a higher fraction of NP array and NP radius were found to increase the total spectral heating content. The developed framework may be universal as it is not only limited to monofacial configuration and Schottky solar cells, but could be extended and adapted to any other solid-state devices).