Periodically arranged colloidal gold nanoparticles for enhanced light harvesting in organic solar cells

Mina Mirsafaei; André Luis Fernandes Cauduro; Casper Kunstmann-Olsen; Adam Michael Davidson; Søren Hassing; Martin A. B. Hedegaard; Horst-Günter Rubahn; Jost Adam; Morten Madsen

doi:10.1117/12.2227867

29 April 2016 Periodically arranged colloidal gold nanoparticles for enhanced light harvesting in organic solar cells

Mina Mirsafaei, André Luis Fernandes Cauduro, Casper Kunstmann-Olsen, Adam Michael Davidson, Søren Hassing, Martin A. B. Hedegaard, Horst-Günter Rubahn, Jost Adam, Morten Madsen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9898, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems VI; 989810 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2227867
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2016, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Although organic solar cells show intriguing features such as low-cost, mechanical flexibility and light weight, their efficiency is still low compared to their inorganic counterparts. One way of improving their efficiency is by the use of light-trapping mechanisms from nano- or microstructures, which makes it possible to improve the light absorption and charge extraction in the device’s active layer. Here, periodically arranged colloidal gold nanoparticles are demonstrated experimentally and theoretically to improve light absorption and thus enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells. Surface-ordered gold nanoparticle arrangements are integrated at the bottom electrode of organic solar cells. The resulting optical interference and absorption effects are numerically investigated in bulk hetero-junction solar cells based on the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) and Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) and as a function of size and periodicity of the plasmonic arrangements. In addition, light absorption enhancement in the organic active layer is investigated experimentally following integration of the nanoparticle arrangements. The latter are fabricated using a lithography-free stamping technique, creating a centimeter scaled area with nanoparticles having a defined inter-particle spacing. Our study reveals the light harvesting ability of template-assisted nanoparticle assemblies in organic solar cells. As the approach is easily scalable, it is an efficient and transferable method for large-scale, low cost device fabrication.

Citation Download Citation

Mina Mirsafaei, André Luis Fernandes Cauduro, Casper Kunstmann-Olsen, Adam Michael Davidson, Søren Hassing, Martin A. B. Hedegaard, Horst-Günter Rubahn, Jost Adam, and Morten Madsen "Periodically arranged colloidal gold nanoparticles for enhanced light harvesting in organic solar cells", Proc. SPIE 9898, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems VI, 989810 (29 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2227867

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available