Full light absorption in single arrays of spherical nanoparticles

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that planar arrays of core-shell spherical nanoparticles can achieve full light absorption, offering versatile designs for applications like photovoltaics and thermal emitters.

Contribution

The study introduces a new class of thin, planar nanoparticle arrays that enable complete light absorption, differing from traditional metamaterial absorbers by their simplicity and effectiveness.

Findings

Arrays can achieve full absorption from one or both sides.

Designs include resonant, broadband, and angularly selective absorbers.

Potential applications in photovoltaics and thermal emission.

Abstract

In this paper we show that arrays of core-shell nanoparticles function as effective thin absorbers of light. In contrast to known metamaterial absorbers, the introduced absorbers are formed by single planar arrays of spherical inclusions and enable full absorption of light incident on either or both sides of the array. We demonstrate possibilities for realizing different kinds of symmetric absorbers, including resonant, ultra-broadband, angularly selective, and all-angle absorbers. The physical principle behind these designs is explained considering balanced electric and magnetic responses of unit cells. Photovoltaic devices and thermal emitters are the two most important potential applications of the proposed designs.