Synergistic effects of SiO2 and Au nanostructures for enhanced broadband light absorption in perovskite solar cells

To achieve high-performance perovskite solar cells, this study meticulously investigates the synergistic effects of SiO₂ nanoparticles and Au nanopyramids as antireflective and plasmonic structures, respectively. Utilizing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, the effectiveness of four dielectric nanoparticles (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, ZnO, and TiO₂) as antireflection coatings is comprehensively analyzed. The optimum structure achieved a notable 12.2% increase in light absorption over the 300 nm to 800 nm wavelength range, considering absorption of Au nanopyramids as loss. This enhancement is attributed to a 6.1% reduction in light reflection by the dielectric nanoparticles and a 6.1% increase due to near-field enhancement around the Au nanopyramids. The integration of Au nanopyramids leads to superior solar cell performance because their wavelength resonance is located in the region greater than 600 nm. The J-V curve data obtained from SCAPS simulations further confirms the enhanced performance, revealing a significant increase in short-circuit current density and overall power conversion efficiency. Additionally, the device based on Au spherical nanoparticles, square and rectangular plasmonic nanostructures have also been studied to investigate the importance of the plasmonic structure geometry. These compelling findings underscore the transformative potential of combining antireflective and plasmonic strategies with the appropriate structure for exceptional light management in perovskite solar cells.