Multilayer silver nanoparticles embedded in graded-index dielectric layers

A pulsed laser deposited SiO2/Ag/ZnO/Ag/TiO2 multilayer structure is studied to enhance the light trapping capability of thin-film solar cell. Structural and optical properties of structure are studied with scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and UV-visible spectroscopy. Proposed geometry improves the extinction spectra and quenches photoluminescence in comparison to TiO2/Ag and SiO2/Ag/ZnO geometry. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations indicate a promising effect of the proposed geometries on thin-film solar cells. Twofold enhancement in total quantum efficiency of an optimized multilayer plasmonic graded-index thin-film solar cell is observed in comparison to the pristine solar cell. Results suggest a more concerted study of multilayer plasmonic nanostructures with graded-index anti-reflection coatings to improve the performance of thin-film photovoltaic devices.