Investigating the impact of nanoparticle-embedded layers on amorphous silicon thin-film solar cell performance: a comparative simulation study

Abstract

This study presents a numerical analysis evaluating the performance of plasmonic amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells incorporating nanoparticles of diverse types, shapes, and sizes. The simulations were performed using the semiconductor simulator SILVACO TCAD, which allowed for the design and optimization of nanoparticle structures within the solar cells. The results indicated that the highest short-circuit current and external quantum efficiency were achieved when aluminum nanoparticles were used, with silicon oxide as the surrounding medium, a particle density of 12.56%, a particle-to-substrate distance of 0 nm, a particle size of 300 nm, and a cubic shape. Under these conditions, the efficiency of the solar cells increased from 23.5% (without nanoparticles) to 35.9%, and the short-circuit current increased from 12.1 to 19.2 A/m2. These findings provide valuable insights into the optimization of nanoparticle parameters for enhancing the performance of plasmonic amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells.