Enhanced Plasmonic Light Trapping on Nanostructured Metallic Surfaces in Silicon Solar Cells

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the application of plasmonic nanostructured metallic surfaces for improving the performance of silicon solar cells. Both numerical simulations and experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the effects of silver, gold, and aluminium nanoparticles on the spectral and electrical characteristics of photovoltaic devices. The results show that the incorporation of plasmonic nanostructures increases the optical absorption coefficient in the visible and near-infrared regions, leading to an increase in short-circuit current density and an overall efficiency enhancement of 2.5–3.0% compared with reference samples.
The most pronounced enhancement was achieved using silver nanoparticles, whereas gold provided the highest stability and aluminium exhibited strong activity in the ultraviolet spectral region. The economic analysis demonstrated the competitiveness of the proposed technology: the moderate increase in fabrication cost can be compensated by a reduction in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Environmental aspects, including the toxicity of silver and potential risks associated with end-of-life panel disposal, are also considered. Overall, the study concludes that plasmonic nanostructures represent a highly promising approach for next-generation photovoltaics, provided that their stability and scalability are further optimized.