Light Scattering by Silver Nanoparticles in Colloid Solutions for Improved Photovoltaic Devices

Abstract

Incorporation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) into photovoltaic cells attracts much attention last years as a promising way for efficiency improvement by light trapping. Precise characterization of light scattering properties of NPs is essential for their successful application. Scattering diagrams and spectra of absorbed light are studied with custom-assembled automated experimental setups. It was found, that 60-240 nm in diameter Ag NPs demonstrate efficient wide-angle light scattering due to excitation of multipole resonances, which manifest themselves as side lobes in the scattering diagrams. Contributions of the multipole modes were also resolved in the absorption spectra of NPs. Direction of light scattering and a red shift of light scattering efficiency maxima, comparing to absorption maxima, studied aiming its application for efficient trapping of long-wavelength radiation in photovoltaic cells.