Bridging electromagnetic and carrier transport calculations for three-dimensional modelling of plasmonic solar cells

Li, Xiao Feng; Hylton, Nicholas P.; Giannini, Vincenzo; Lee, Kan‐Hua; Ekins-Daukes, N. J.; Maier, Stefan A.

doi:10.1364/oe.19.00a888

Cited by 135 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…We first introduce the fundamental theory and governing equations for optoelectronic simulation: [16][17][18] …”

Section: Model and Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where Equations (1)(3) are the wavelength-dependent carrier-transport and Poisson's equations, The carrier generation rate g(x,y,z,λ) can be estimated by solving electromagnetic wave equation in frequency domain, 16,17 and U bulk is the total bulk recombination rate including contributions 16 surface recombination conditions are considered in both contacts to evaluate the corresponding photocurrent loss in the device surfaces. Such a frequency-domain analysis is established without a bias (i.e., V a = 0 V), enabling the extraction of rich spectral information of photocurrent.…”

Section: Model and Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

Shang

et al. 2017

AIP Advances

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Photocurrent and voltage losses are the fundamental limitations for improving the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. It is indeed that a comprehensive and quantitative differentiation of the performance degradation in solar cells will promote the understanding of photovoltaic physics as well as provide a useful guidance to design highly-efficient and cost-effective solar cells. Based on optoelectronic simulation that addresses electromagnetic and carrier-transport responses in a coupled finite-element method, we report a detailed quantitative analysis of photocurrent and voltage losses in solar cells. We not only concentrate on the wavelength-dependent photocurrent loss, but also quantify the variations of photocurrent and operating voltage under different forward electrical biases. Further, the device output power and power losses due to carrier recombination, thermalization, Joule heat, and Peltier heat are studied through the optoelectronic simulation. The deep insight into the gains and losses of the photocurrent, voltage, and energy will contribute to the accurate clarifications of the performance degradation of photovoltaic devices, enabling a better control of the photovoltaic behaviors for high performance.

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“…We first introduce the fundamental theory and governing equations for optoelectronic simulation: [16][17][18] …”

Section: Model and Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model and Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

Shang

et al. 2017

AIP Advances

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“…This combined model is a simplification of that in Refs. [6,7]. The calculation yields the expected external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the simulated device.…”

Section: B Computationalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the radiation hardness of space solar cells via nanophotonic light trapping

Mellor

Hylton

Wellens

et al. 2016

2016 IEEE 43rd Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

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-We show that the radiation-hardness of space solar cells can be significantly improved by employing nanophotonic light trapping. Two light-trapping structures are investigated in this work. In the first, an array of Al nanoparticles is embedded within the anti-reflection coating of a GaInP/InGaAs/Ge solar cell. A combined experimental and simulation study shows that this structure is unlikely to lead to an improvement in radiation hardness. In the second, a diffractive structure is positioned between the middle cell and the bottom cell. Computational results, obtained using an experimentally validated electro-optical simulation tool, show that a properly designed light-trapping structure in this position can lead to a relative 10% improvement in the middle-cell photocurrent at end-of-life.

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“…In order to understand the link between optical and electrical performance [7,8], we use the results of the FDTD modeling as input into 3D finite-element device physics simulations. The generation rate at each point on the FDTD simulation grid is calculated from…”

Section: Flat Amorphous Silicon Solar Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulations of solar cell absorption enhancement using resonant modes of a nanosphere array

et al. 2012

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We propose an approach for enhancing the absorption of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells using periodic arrangements of resonant dielectric nanospheres deposited as a continuous film on top of a thin planar cell. We numerically demonstrate this enhancement using 3D full field finite difference time domain simulations and 3D finite element device physics simulations of a nanosphere array above a thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell structure featuring back reflector and anti-reflection coating. In addition, we use the full field finite difference time domain results as input to finite element device physics simulations to demonstrate that the enhanced absorption contributes to the current extracted from the device. We study the influence of a multi-sized array of spheres, compare spheres and domes and propose an analytical model based on the temporal coupled mode theory.

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Bridging electromagnetic and carrier transport calculations for three-dimensional modelling of plasmonic solar cells

Cited by 135 publications

References 37 publications

Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

Improving the radiation hardness of space solar cells via nanophotonic light trapping

Simulations of solar cell absorption enhancement using resonant modes of a nanosphere array

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