Solar Cell Enhancement with Organic Plasmonic Photovoltaics: Case Study of Lut Desert, Iran

In spite of the industrial advances made possible by fossil fuel, it is not possible - economically or environmentally - to fuel growth through non-renewable energy sources. Solar energy has the potential to provide cheap and renewable energy not only locally, but on a national level. To this end, traditional silicon photovoltaics faces limitations with regards to efficiency as well as economics. Thanks to the solution-processing friendly organic solar cells, they are a prime candidate for wide scale use of photovoltaic technologies. The Achilles' heel of organic solar cells lies in their lower efficiency. Herein we present a case study on the use of plasmonic nanoparticles to increase the power conversion efficiency. Based on a case study in Lut Desert of Iran, the increase in power efficiency is demonstrated. A discussion is presented on the case involving the use of 2% of the area for power generation.