Engineered optical properties of silver-aluminum alloy nanoparticles embedded in SiON matrix for maximizing light confinement in plasmonic silicon solar cells.

ABSTRACT: Self-assembled silver-aluminum (Ag-Al) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in SiO₂, Si₃N_4, and SiON dielectric thin film matrices explored as a hybrid plasmonic structure for silicon solar cells to maximize light confinement. The Ag₂Al NPs prepared by ex-vacuo solid-state dewetting, and alloy formation confirmed by X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy revealed better surface adhesion of alloy NPs on silicon surface than Ag NPs due to the Al presence. The SiON spacer layer/Ag₂Al NPs reduced silicon average reflectance from 22.7% to 9.2% due to surface plasmonic and antireflection effects. The SiON capping layer on NPs reduced silicon reflectance from 9.2% to 3.6% in wavelen

SUBMITTER: Parashar PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5624887 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature