Increased Efficiency inside the CdTe Solar Cell Absorber Caused by Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles

Noble metal nanoparticles are prospective of enhancement light trapping, absorption and overall efficency in solar cells. Light induced plasmonic electric field concentrated near such particles can support absorption process in the absorber layer of the cell. In spite of the clarity of this general principle, discussions about the most effective size, shape and placement of nanoparticles in solar cell structure are still under discussion.Here we report calculations of light absorption inside the CdTe absorber layer doped by metal nanospheres and the effects caused by plasmonic phenomena. COMSOL 3D finite element simulations were employed for calculations of light absorption near Ag, Au, Al nanoparticles and optimization of particle diameters and spacing was performed. The simulations revealed that absorption near the particles can be enhanced by factor of ∼2.5.