Transparent electrode designs based on optimal nano-patterning of metallic films
Type
Conference PaperAuthors
Catrysse, Peter B.Fan, Shanhui
KAUST Grant Number
KUSC1-015-21Date
2010-09-10Online Publication Date
2010-09-10Print Publication Date
2010-08-19Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/623611
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Transparent conductive electrodes are critical to the operation of optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells and light emitting diodes. Effective electrodes need to combine excellent electrical and optical properties. Metal oxides, such as indium tin oxide, are commonly used. There is substantial interest in replacing them, however, motivated by practical problems and recent discoveries regarding the optics of nano-patterned metals. When designing nano-patterned metallic films for use as electrodes, one needs to account for both optical and electrical properties. In general, it is insufficient to optimize nano-structured films based upon optical properties alone, since structural variations will also affect the electrical properties. In this work, we investigate the need for simultaneous optical and electrical performance by analyzing the optical properties of a class of nano-patterned metallic electrodes that is obtained by a constant-sheet-resistance transformation. Within such a class the electrical and optical properties can be separated, i.e., the sheet resistance can be kept constant and the transmittance can be optimized independently. For simple one-dimensional periodic patterns with constant sheet-resistance, we find a transmission maximum (polarization-averaged) when the metal sections are narrow (< 40 nm, ~ 10% metal fill-factor) and tall (> 100 nm). Our design carries over to more complex two-dimensional (2D) patterns. This is significant as there are no previous reports regarding numerical studies on the optical and electrical properties of 2D nano-patterns in the context of electrode design.Citation
Catrysse PB, Fan S (2010) Transparent electrode designs based on optimal nano-patterning of metallic films. Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties VIII. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.860998.Sponsors
The authors thank J.-Y. Lee and P. Peumans for bringing this problem to their attention. This work was supported by the Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics (CAMP) under Award No KUSC1-015-21 made by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and by DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-07ER46426. The computation is performed through the support of NSF-LRAC program.Publisher
SPIE-Intl Soc Optical EngConference/Event name
Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties VIIIae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1117/12.860998