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Broadband light management using low-Q whispering gallery modes in spherical nanoshells

Author

Listed:
  • Yan Yao

    (Stanford University)

  • Jie Yao

    (Stanford University)

  • Vijay Kris Narasimhan

    (Stanford University)

  • Zhichao Ruan

    (Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University)

  • Chong Xie

    (Stanford University)

  • Shanhui Fan

    (Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University)

  • Yi Cui

    (Stanford University
    Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Abstract

Light trapping across a wide band of frequencies is important for applications such as solar cells and photodetectors. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to light management by forming whispering-gallery resonant modes inside a spherical nanoshell structure. The geometry of the structure gives rise to a low quality-factor, facilitating the coupling of light into the resonant modes and substantial enhancement of the light path in the active material, thus dramatically improving absorption. Using nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) as a model system, we observe broadband absorption enhancement across a large range of incident angles. The absorption of a single layer of 50-nm-thick spherical nanoshells is equivalent to a 1-μm-thick planar nc-Si film. This light-trapping structure could enable the manufacturing of high-throughput ultra-thin film absorbers in a variety of material systems that demand shorter deposition time, less material usage and transferability to flexible substrates.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Yao & Jie Yao & Vijay Kris Narasimhan & Zhichao Ruan & Chong Xie & Shanhui Fan & Yi Cui, 2012. "Broadband light management using low-Q whispering gallery modes in spherical nanoshells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-7, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1664
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1664
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