Metal nanoparticle enhanced light absorption in GaAs thin-film solar cell

Surface plasmon resonances in metallic nanoparticles are of considerable importance for thin film technologies due to the significant electromagnetic enhancement in the vicinity of metal surface, light trapping and the ability to tune the resonant wavelength by varying the size, geometry and local dielectric environment of the metal nanoparticle. Metal nanoparticles have the ability for enhanced light trapping, increased absorption and overall rise in efficiency of solar cells. Light enhancement engineered on the vicinity of such particles can augment the absorption in the absorber layer of the Photovoltaic (PV) cell. In this report, we present calculations of light absorption inside the GaAs absorber layer with embedded metal nanospheres and the subsequent effects instigated by the plasmonic phenomena. The finite element simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics was employed for calculations of light absorption near Au, Ag, Cu and Al nanoparticles and optimization of particle diameters. The results conclude that above 600 nm wavelength where the solar radiation is absorbed poorly by GaAs, the absorption with the presence of nanoparticles in GaAs absorber layer can be enhanced by a factor of 2.