Enhanced photocurrent in crystalline silicon solar cells by hybrid plasmonic antireflection coatings

Photocurrent enhancement induced by plasmonic light trapping is of great interest for photovoltaics. We design and demonstrate hybrid plasmonic antireflection coatings as an efficient light trapping strategy for broadband absorption and photocurrent enhancement in crystalline silicon solar cells. Gold nanoparticles of size ranging from 15 to 150 nm are embedded in standard SiNx antireflection coatings with a thickness of 90 nm. Through optimizing the location of tailored nanoparticles within the SiNx layer, both light scattering enhancement and near-field light concentration can be harnessed. A maximum increase of 6.3% in photocurrent is achieved for textured multi-crystalline Si solar cells with the optimum configuration. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4773038]