Control of the input efficiency of photons into solar cells with plasmonic nanoparticles

►We model the photon input efficiency of solar cells due to plasmonic nanoparticles. ►At low nanoparticle densities, the efficiency grows linearly with the density. ►With increasing nanoparticle densities, the efficiency reaches its maximum. ►Aluminum particles can be preferred compared with gold ones for silicon solar cells.