Plasmonic effects in microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells

Plasmonic effects in microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells with textured front contacts and back reflectors were investigated. Nanotexturing of the front contact of the thin film-solar cell leads to enhanced light trapping, while the nanotextured back reflector allows for the formation of localized plasmonic resonances, which partially contribute to light scattering and partially to optical losses. The interplay between light trapping and plasmonic losses was investigated and strategy will be presented to tune surface plasmon resonances and increase the short circuit current and quantum efficiency.