Direct generation of charge carriers in c-Si solar cells due to embedded nanoparticles

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that embedded metallic nanoparticles in crystalline silicon solar cells can directly generate charge carriers through plasmon-induced electric fields, potentially enhancing photovoltaic efficiency without phonon assistance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where surface plasmons in nanoparticles directly produce electron-hole pairs in silicon, bypassing phonon-mediated processes.

Findings

Nanoparticle-induced electric fields can generate electron-hole pairs directly.

This process reduces energy losses compared to traditional phonon-assisted generation.

Potential for increased efficiency in thin film silicon solar cells.

Abstract

It is known that silicon is an indirect band gap material, reducing its efficiency in photovoltaic applications. Using surface plasmons in metallic nanoparticles embedded in a solar cell has recently been proposed as a way to increase the efficiency of thin film silicon solar cells. The dipole mode that dominates the plasmons in small particles produces an electric field having Fourier components with all wave numbers. In this work, we show that such a field creates electron-hole-pairs without phonon assistance, and discuss the importance of this effect compared to radiation from the particle and losses due to heating.