Gold　nano-island　structures　were　fabricated　on　the　light-illumination　side　of　an　organic　solar　cell　device　to　investigate　how　the　light　scattering　by　localized　surface　plasmon　resonance　influences　the　quantum　efficiency　of　an　organic　solar　cell.　A　light　beam　from　a　solar　simulator　experiences　multiple　interaction　processes　with　the　gold　nanostructures　before　reaching　the　organic　active　material,　which　may　include　the　scattering,　the　reflection,　and　the　absorption　by　the　gold　nano-islands.　However,　only　the　scattering　process　may　partially　contribute　to　the　enhancement　of　the　conversion　efficiency.　The　reflection　and　absorption　processes　make　the　gold　nanostructures　act　as　＇blockers＇　and　prevent　the　light　from　reaching　the　solar　cell　device.　Even　the　scattering　process　may　not　always　play　positive　roles　in　improving　the　performance　of　the　device.　Thus,　experimental　studies　in　this　work　intend　to　find　out　a　balance　between　the　loss　and　the　enhancement　mechanisms,　so　that　the　efficiency　of　the　solar　cell　can　be　improved.　Our　experimental　results　found　a　possibly　optimized　configuration　of　the　gold　nano-island　structures,　which　leads　to　enhancement　of　the　conversion　efficiency　of　the　solar　cell　device.　©　(2012)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.