Enhancing the Efficiency of Ultra-thin Perovskite Solar Cell Through Cluster of Cubic Plasmonic Nanoparticles: A Numerical Investigation

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells have emerged as a promising third-generation solar cell technology, characterized by high efficiency and low fabrication costs, garnering significant research attention in recent years. In this study, the impact of embedding the cluster of cubic plasmonic nanoparticles within the ultra-thin absorber layer of perovskite solar cells was investigated. Various types of metallic nanoparticles (including Au, Ag, Al, and Cu) were employed in the perovskite absorber layer, each with different thicknesses and widths. This facilitated a comprehensive comparison aimed at identifying the optimal structure for light absorption within the bandgap range of the perovskite absorber layer—specifically, 300 to 800 nm, corresponding to a bandgap energy of 1.55 eV. The layers used in the design of the perovskite solar cell in this research are SiO₂/ITO/SnO₂/MAPbI₃/MoO₃/Au. Optical and electrical analyses revealed that the local field intensity is significantly stronger at the edges of metallic nanoparticles. Notably, the efficiency of perovskite solar cells is enhanced by 56.87% (rising from 18.24 to 28.62%) with the incorporation of an Ag-based cluster of cubic nanoparticles, compared to perovskite solar cells without metallic nanoparticles. This achievement resulted in an overall efficiency of 28.62% and a short-circuit current of 31.22 mA/cm². This result closely approaches the efficiency limitation of perovskite absorber layers, which indicates the potential for significant performance enhancements in future perovskite solar cell technologies.