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Selective Scatterers Improve Efficiency and Color Neutrality of Semitransparent Photovoltaics
Zheheng Song1, Xi Lu1, Oanh Vu2
1Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 11419, Sweden.
ACS Photonics
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) enhance semitransparent solar cells by improving efficiency and color neutrality. These dielectric scatterers offer tunable light management for better performance and aesthetics in photovoltaic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optics
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Semitransparent photovoltaic devices require aesthetic improvements for wider adoption.
- Plasmonic materials often introduce unwanted losses and spectral distortions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of dielectric silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) as Mie scatterers for enhancing semitransparent solar cells.
- To analyze the theoretical and experimental effects of SiNPs on luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs).
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations of SiNP scattering properties.
- Experimental fabrication of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) with a SiNP layer.
- Utilizing sacrificial polymer shells and oxygen plasma etching for SiNP deposition.
Main Results:
- Dielectric SiNPs provide lossless, tunable scattering in the visible spectrum.
- SiNPs increase optical path length, enhancing absorption and device efficiency by 10-15%.
- Achieved color neutrality and improved photocurrent with ~10% SiNP surface coverage.
Conclusions:
- Dielectric Mie scatterers (SiNPs) offer a promising route for high-performance, aesthetically pleasing semitransparent solar cells.
- SiNPs enable effective light management, boosting efficiency while maintaining color neutrality.
- The developed fabrication method successfully integrates SiNPs for enhanced LSC performance.
