Broadband absorption enhancement of organic solar cells with interstitial lattice patterned metal nanoparticles

Light blocking induced by top patterned nanostructures is a fundamental limit in solar cells absorption. Here we propose an interstitial lattice patterned organic solar cell which can improve the light blocking of traditional square lattice and achieve broadband absorption enhancement. Compared to square lattice design, the plasmonic mode couplings between individual metallic nanoparticles in the interstitial lattice are more versatile and much stronger. Moreover, plasmonic modes can couple to the guided modes, resulting in large enhancement factor at some wavelengths. The interstitial lattice concept will be a broad interest and great help for high-performance photovoltaics. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.