Controlling optical absorption in metamaterial absorbers for plasmonic solar cells

Wyatt Adams; Ankit Vora; Jephias Gwamuri; Joshua M. Pearce; Durdu Ö. Güney

doi:10.1117/12.2190396

31 August 2015 Controlling optical absorption in metamaterial absorbers for plasmonic solar cells

Wyatt Adams, Ankit Vora, Jephias Gwamuri, Joshua M. Pearce, Durdu Ö. Güney

Proceedings Volume 9546, Active Photonic Materials VII; 95461M (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2190396
Event: SPIE Nanoscience + Engineering, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Metals in the plasmonic metamaterial absorbers for photovoltaics constitute undesired resistive heating. However, tailoring the geometric skin depth of metals can minimize resistive losses while maximizing the optical absorbance in the active semiconductors of the photovoltaic device. Considering experimental permittivity data for In_xGa_1-xN, absorbance in the semiconductor layers of the photovoltaic device can reach above 90%. The results here also provides guidance to compare the performance of different semiconductor materials. This skin depth engineering approach can also be applied to other optoelectronic devices, where optimizing the device performance demands minimizing resistive losses and power consumption, such as photodetectors, laser diodes, and light emitting diodes.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Wyatt Adams, Ankit Vora, Jephias Gwamuri, Joshua M. Pearce, and Durdu Ö. Güney "Controlling optical absorption in metamaterial absorbers for plasmonic solar cells", Proc. SPIE 9546, Active Photonic Materials VII, 95461M (31 August 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2190396

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available