Role of metal and dielectric nanoparticles in the performance enhancement of silicon solar cells

The suitability of using spherical metal and dielectric nanoparticles on the top of a silicon solar cell has been investigated. An enhancement index factor (EIF) for each wavelength of light and an averaged EIF for the AM 1.5 solar spectrum, weighted by the photon flux, has been introduced. These factors estimate the effect of the nanoparticles in improving the performance of the solar cells, considering the absorption loss due to joule heating, fraction of radiation scattered into the substrate and the front scattered radiation pattern. A systematic comparison between silver and dielectric nanoparticles (silica, silicon nitride, titanium dioxide) shows that titanium dioxide and silicon nitride nano particles of sizes >= 100 nm exhibit larger enhancements compared to that of silver nanoparticles of similar sizes. Further, as the dielectric constant of the dielectric nanoparticles increases, the optimal particle size corresponding to maximal enhancement shifts towards lower value. At optimal particle sizes, the enhancement is 1.5-2 times greater than that due to silver nanoparticles.