Enhancement of Ultra-Thin Inverted Perovskite Solar Cell Performance Using Au Nanopyramids: An Optical and Electrical Simulation Study

Abstract

In recent years, the development of ultra-thin perovskite solar cells has attracted attention due to their potential for producing flexible and less toxic solar cells. However, the use of perovskite thin films results in lower efficiency due to inadequate light harvesting. This paper proposes and numerically investigates the incorporation of Au nanopyramids within the 200 nm thick perovskite layer of inverted perovskite solar cells to enhance light harvesting. The effects of the size and periodicity of the nanopyramids on light absorption in the active layer are examined to achieve optimum cell performance. The mechanisms behind the improvement in absorption are analyzed through Mie resonance and near-field distribution. The optimized Au nanopyramids embedded in the perovskite layer led to a 19.48% increase in perovskite layer absorption. Additionally, devices based on Cu, Al, and Ag are studied to investigate the significance of the materials used in the plasmonic structures. The effects of Au nanopyramids in solar cells with perovskite layer thicknesses of 100 nm and 300 nm are also examined. Electrical analysis is performed on all optimized structures, and photovoltaic parameters are extracted. The findings of our research facilitate the design of high-performance, ultra-thin, and stable perovskite solar cells.