Simulation, design and optimization of Si/InP thin-film tandem solar cell by using a plasmonic back reflector structure

Abstract

In this paper, Si/InP thin-film tandem plasmonic solar cell was designed, simulated and optimized to obtain ultimate efficiency. The proposed solar cell structure has a periodic array of plasmonic back reflector which consists of a silver layer and two perpendicular silver nanowires placed on top of each other. This design creates a waveguide-scale structure by using a plasmonic back reflector with an anti-reflection coating layer on top, which dramatically enhances light trapping in the solar cell structure. In order to optimize the proposed solar cell structure, seven characteristic parameters of solar cell structure were optimized using the central composite design method. The optimized structures showed a maximum weighted absorption, ultimate efficiency and short-circuit current density of 0.982, 52% and 41.62 mA/cm2, respectively.