Advanced Computational Model for Plasmon-Enhanced Schottky Solar Cells Incorporating Thermal Dynamics

This paper employs a multiphysics approach to introduce an opto-thermal-electrical model for plasmonic Schottky solar cells (PSSCs). It examines the optical properties, power conversion efficiency, and energy output of PSSCs, focusing on different geometries and sizes of nanoparticles (NPs). The spectral analysis considers absorption characteristics for NP radii from 10 nm to 150 nm in 3x3, 5x5, and 7x7 configurations. The study presents a novel energy yield model for PSSCs enhanced with Au-NPs on silicon absorbers, combining thermal, optical, and electrical responses to predict global energy yield maps. The total spectral heat absorption was measured across 300 nm to 1200 nm, with detailed analysis of NP heating and thermalization within the silicon absorber. Results show a significant improvement in electrical performance with the 5x5 NP array featuring a radius of 70 nm, yielding a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 11.54 mA/cm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>, a 47% increase compared to traditional 2 μm thick bare silicon Schottky cells. This improvement is associated with a notable rise in heat production within the NPs, with thermal gains soaring by 182.5% compared to uncoated silicon cells. To optimize performance and manage heat, advanced thermal management strategies are essential, with potential energy yield increases of up to 80 kWh/m<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> annually in sunny regions.