Plasmonic nanocavity devices and methods for enhanced efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells

摘要

Plasmonic nanocavity arrays and methods for enhanced efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells are described. Plasmonic nanocavities offer a promising and highly tunable alternative to conventional transparent conductors for photovoltaic applications using both organic and inorganic materials systems.

主权项

1. A photovoltaic device for converting incident light to electrical current comprising:
a substrate; a metal anode layer, the metal anode layer defining an array within the metal anode layer of subwavelength apertures; an active region comprising one or more layers of semiconductor material; and a metal cathode layer, wherein a device architecture is provided with the active region located between the metal anode layer and the metal cathode layer, the device architecture of the active region, the metal anode layer and the metal cathode layer creating an array of plasmonic nanocavities within the spacing between the metal anode and metal cathode layers with respect to one another and optical coupling of the anode and cathode layers with one another, and further wherein edges of the plasmonic nanocavities are defined by the subwavelength apertures of the metal anode layer.