Optical rectification in plasmonic solar cells
(Conference Presentation)

Jean-Michel Nunzi; Somayeh M. A. Mirzaee

doi:10.1117/12.2229592

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26 July 2016 Optical rectification in plasmonic solar cells (Conference Presentation)

Jean-Michel Nunzi, Somayeh M. A. Mirzaee

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Proceedings Volume 9884, Nanophotonics VI; 988419 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2229592
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2016, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

A photovoltaic technology that is not limited to the Shockley–Queisser efficiency limit and that is amenable to low-cost and large-area production requirements is studied in our team. The principle is based on the optical rectification of sunlight. Quarter-wave antennas allow the conversion of optical waves into a potential that is maximum at the tip of the antennas. We use molecules to rectify the potential. We study the rectification at the top of our antennas using the formalism and instrumentation of nonlinear optics. We monitor simultaneously the optical rectification and harmonic generation effects. Careful analysis of the tensorial response of the process allows studying the nature of the rectification happening in various types of nano-structured diodes. The enhancement of the nonlinearity related to the nonlinear process is discussed. It reveals the key ingredients needed to achieve efficient conversion of sunlight into electricity using optical rectification.

Conference Presentation

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Jean-Michel Nunzi and Somayeh M. A. Mirzaee "Optical rectification in plasmonic solar cells (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 9884, Nanophotonics VI, 988419 (26 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2229592

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