Light Trapping Performance of Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film-based Photovoltaic Devices: Modelling and Simulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53273/t85stb09Abstract
A fundamental understanding of the optical and electrical characteristics of thin-film-based photovoltaic devices is essential for their rapid prototyping. Mathematical modeling and computer simulations play a crucial role in this process, particularly for the inherently complex semiconductor nanomaterial-based solar cells. This study employs Silvaco Atlas, a commercial computer-aided design software, to model plasmonic gold nanoparticle-doped amorphous silicon thin-film photovoltaic devices. The incorporation of gold nanoparticles was found to enhance light trapping, resulting in improved optical and electrical performance. Specifically, the enhancement in current-voltage characteristics and external quantum efficiency under illumination was attributed to photon scattering mediated by gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, localized surface plasmon resonance interactions reduced carrier recombination rates in the photoactive layer, thereby enhancing photovoltaic performance. The achieved fill factor of 83.33% surpasses the reported state-of-the-art simulation value of 77.79%. Future research should explore the integration of other plasmonic materials and optimization of nanoparticle distribution for further improvements in device efficiency.
Keywords:
Plasmonic Au nanoparticles, modelling and simulation, amorphous Si thin-film, photovoltaic devices.References
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