ABSTRACT
This chapter will present a generalized two-dimensional quasi-
periodic (QP) tiling algorithm based on de Bruijn’s “cut and projec-
tion” 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 ultrathin layers
of organic photovoltaic materials resting on metallic films etched
with arrays of shallow subwavelength 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 the QP arrangement is superior in
intensifying the local fields and enhancing absorption in the active
layer.
