A generalized 'cut and projection' algorithm for the generation of quasiperiodic plasmonic concentrators for high efficiency ultra-thin film photovoltaics

This report will present a generalized two-dimensional quasiperiodic (QP) tiling algorithm based on de Bruijn's "cut and projection" method for use in plasmonic concentrator (PC) / photovoltaic hybrid devices to produce wide-angle, polarization-insensitive, and broadband light absorption enhancement. This algorithm can be employed with any PC consisting of point-like scattering objects, and can be fine-tuned to achieve a high spatial density of points and high orders of local and long-range rotational symmetry. Simulations and experimental data demonstrate this enhancement in ultra-thin layers of organic photovoltaic materials resting on metallic films etched with arrays of shallow sub-wavelength nanoholes. These devices work by coupling the incident light to surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes that propagate along the dielectric / metal interface. This effectively increases the scale of light-matter interaction, and can also result in constructive interference between propagating SPP waves. By comparing PCs made with random, periodic, and QP arrangements, it is clear that QP is superior in intensifying the local fields and enhancing absorption in the active layer.