LAUSR

Abstract Intensive research on lead halide perovskites over the last decade led to highly efficient perovskite thin-film photovoltaics. Further enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of this technology is expected from improved light management. In this simulation-based study, nanophotonic perovskite absorber layers are designed in order to enhance the short-circuit current density (JSC) of perovskite solar cells. The enhancement in JSC is beneficial in one of two ways. Firstly, optimized nanophotonic perovskite layers lead to an enhancement in JSC by 5–6% assuming a constant perovskite absorber volume, which correlates to a similar improvement in PCE and annual energy yield (EY). Secondly, optimized nanophotonic perovskite layers can alternatively allow a high JSC to be maintained at reduced perovskite absorber volumes. The latter approach results in about one third of the harmful lead content being mitigated in conventional perovskite solar cells, for an initial perovskite layer thickness of ~300 nm. This study evaluates and analyzes in detail the design of nanophotonic perovskite layers that can be fabricated by nanoimprint lithography. Various design parameters of the nanophotonic perovskite layers such as the period (150–750 nm), the geometrical filling fraction (0.2–0.6) and the depth (0–500 nm) of the nanostructures are studied. A broad optimum to enhance JSC is found for a period of 400 nm. Finally, the angular stability of simulated nanophotonic perovskite solar cells is shown and their excellent light harvesting for realistic irradiation conditions is demonstrated by EY modelling.