A numerical study on effects of surrounding medium, material, and geometry of nanoparticles on solar absorption efficiencies

•Solar absorption efficiency factor of single nanoparticles are illustrated.•Effects of surrounding medium, material, et al. on SAEF are investigated.•The mechanisms of SAEF enhancement are studied by using the AEF of nanoparticles.

Effects of surrounding medium, materials (including core-shell configuration) and geometry (size and shape) of nanoparticles on solar energy absorption are studied numerically by employing Mie theory and finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that nanoparticles, having a high absorption peak in the visible region and a broad absorption band in the wavelength range of 300-1100 nm, have a high solar energy absorption efficiency factor. The resonance wavelength, the absorption peak, and the absorption band of nanoparticles play important roles in enhancing the solar absorption efficiency factor of single nanoparticles.