Evolutionary optimization of the short-circuit current enhancement in organic solar cells by nanostructured electrodes

Ping Bai; Mohamed S. Abdelkhalik; Diogo G.A. Castanheira; Jaime Gómez Rivas

doi:10.1063/5.0097964

Evolutionary optimization of the short-circuit current enhancement in organic solar cells by nanostructured electrodes

Ping Bai (Corresponding author)
, Mohamed S. Abdelkhalik
, Diogo G.A. Castanheira
, Jaime Gómez Rivas

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

131 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Using a particle swarm optimization algorithm (a population-based stochastic optimization technique) combined with 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations, we inverse design periodic arrays of metallic nanoparticles on indium-tin-oxide electrodes and nanoholes in metallic thin films working as electrodes in P3HT (Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)):PCBM ([6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) organic solar cells to achieve the maximum short-circuit currents (J s c). Nanohole-array electrodes have large optical losses, leading to a net reduction of J s c compared to a reference solar cell. On the other hand, nanoparticle arrays can lead to a significant enhancement of J s c of up to 20%. Detailed simulations show that this enhancement is caused by the grating coupling of the incident light to surface plasmon polaritons at the interface of the metal electrode and the hole transport layer, leading to the enhancement of the electromagnetic field in the organic blend.

Original language	English
Article number	153103
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Applied Physics
Volume	132
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0097964
Publication status	Published - 21 Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Tom van der Pol for useful discussions and for providing the ellipsometry data of different materials. This work has been financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) (Vici Grant No. 680-47-628). P.B. is partly sponsored by the China Scholarship Council.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Author(s).

Funding

We thank Tom van der Pol for useful discussions and for providing the ellipsometry data of different materials. This work has been financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) (Vici Grant No. 680-47-628). P.B. is partly sponsored by the China Scholarship Council.

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title = "Evolutionary optimization of the short-circuit current enhancement in organic solar cells by nanostructured electrodes",

abstract = "Using a particle swarm optimization algorithm (a population-based stochastic optimization technique) combined with 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations, we inverse design periodic arrays of metallic nanoparticles on indium-tin-oxide electrodes and nanoholes in metallic thin films working as electrodes in P3HT (Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)):PCBM ([6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) organic solar cells to achieve the maximum short-circuit currents (J s c). Nanohole-array electrodes have large optical losses, leading to a net reduction of J s c compared to a reference solar cell. On the other hand, nanoparticle arrays can lead to a significant enhancement of J s c of up to 20\%. Detailed simulations show that this enhancement is caused by the grating coupling of the incident light to surface plasmon polaritons at the interface of the metal electrode and the hole transport layer, leading to the enhancement of the electromagnetic field in the organic blend.",

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AU - Abdelkhalik, Mohamed S.

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AU - Gómez Rivas, Jaime

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Tom van der Pol for useful discussions and for providing the ellipsometry data of different materials. This work has been financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) (Vici Grant No. 680-47-628). P.B. is partly sponsored by the China Scholarship Council. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Author(s).

PY - 2022/10/21

Y1 - 2022/10/21

N2 - Using a particle swarm optimization algorithm (a population-based stochastic optimization technique) combined with 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations, we inverse design periodic arrays of metallic nanoparticles on indium-tin-oxide electrodes and nanoholes in metallic thin films working as electrodes in P3HT (Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)):PCBM ([6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) organic solar cells to achieve the maximum short-circuit currents (J s c). Nanohole-array electrodes have large optical losses, leading to a net reduction of J s c compared to a reference solar cell. On the other hand, nanoparticle arrays can lead to a significant enhancement of J s c of up to 20%. Detailed simulations show that this enhancement is caused by the grating coupling of the incident light to surface plasmon polaritons at the interface of the metal electrode and the hole transport layer, leading to the enhancement of the electromagnetic field in the organic blend.

AB - Using a particle swarm optimization algorithm (a population-based stochastic optimization technique) combined with 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations, we inverse design periodic arrays of metallic nanoparticles on indium-tin-oxide electrodes and nanoholes in metallic thin films working as electrodes in P3HT (Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)):PCBM ([6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) organic solar cells to achieve the maximum short-circuit currents (J s c). Nanohole-array electrodes have large optical losses, leading to a net reduction of J s c compared to a reference solar cell. On the other hand, nanoparticle arrays can lead to a significant enhancement of J s c of up to 20%. Detailed simulations show that this enhancement is caused by the grating coupling of the incident light to surface plasmon polaritons at the interface of the metal electrode and the hole transport layer, leading to the enhancement of the electromagnetic field in the organic blend.

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Evolutionary optimization of the short-circuit current enhancement in organic solar cells by nanostructured electrodes

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