Organic solar cells with plasmonic layers formed by laser nanofabrication

A method for the synthesis of metal nanoparticle coatings for plasmonic solar cells which can meet large scale industrial demands is demonstrated. A UV pulsed laser is utilized to fabricate Au and Ag nanoparticles on the surface of polymer materials which form the substrates for plasmonic organic photovoltaic devices to enhance their performance. Control of the particles' size and density is demonstrated. The optical and electrical effects of these embedded particles on the power conversion efficiency are examined rigorously using both experimental and computer simulation. Gold nanoparticles of particular size and spatial distribution enhance the device efficiency. Based on our findings, we propose design considerations for utilizing the entire AM1.5 spectrum using plasmonic structures towards enhancing the efficiency of polymer solar cells using broad spectrum plasmonics.