Absorption improvement of an ultra-thin silicon solar cell using cubic and disk-shape nanoclusters

The increasing demand for highly efficient and cost-effective solar cells has driven advancements in ultra-thin solar technologies, addressing critical challenges in renewable energy. This study focuses on harnessing surface plasmon-induced electric fields to design an ultra-thin silicon-based solar cell with enhanced performance. A key innovation lies in integrating clustered nanoparticles with cubic and disk geometries across a range of sizes to improve light absorption and photocurrent generation. Initially, a baseline solar cell without nanoparticles was modeled, achieving a photocurrent of 4.779 mA/cm². By systematically optimizing nanoparticle size and cell thickness, the photocurrent significantly increased to 21.885 mA/cm² with cubic nanoparticles and 20.777 mA/cm² with disk-shaped clusters. These results highlight the transformative potential of nanoparticle incorporation in boosting photocurrent in ultra-thin silicon solar cells. The methodology and findings offer a scalable framework for enhancing various solar cell designs and geometries, paving the way for more efficient and adaptable photovoltaic technologies in sustainable energy applications. Keywords: Nanoclusters; plasmonic solar cells; silicon solar cell; Surface plasmon resonances; ultra-thin