We describe a fast and effective procedure for the preparation of high efficiency hybrid photoanodes for dyesensitized solar cells (DSCs), based on nanocrystalline TiO 2 with limited addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The mixing process between CNTs and TiO 2 nanoparticles is almost instantaneous, which makes it feasible for large-scale fabrication. Enhanced electron lifetime and reduced charge recombination lead to highly increased short circuit current density and overall photoconversion efficiency (from 13.6 mA cm −2 to 16.0 mA cm −2 and from 7.0% to 9.0%, respectively, considering the bare TiO 2 and the optimum CNTs concentration, which is 0.010 wt %), while the small reduction in open circuit photovoltage does not significantly affect cell performances. This result is remarkable since a standard dye molecule (N719) was used and no chemical treatments of the photoanodes prior to cell fabrication were applied (i.e., soaking in TiCl 4 to boost open circuit photovoltage).

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A theoretical study of GaAs/GaInNAs solar cells based on multiple-quantum well solar cells (MQWSCs) and superlattice solar cell (SLSC) configuration is presented. The conversion efficiency as a function of the quantum well width and depth is modeled for MQWSC, reaching high values. A study of the SLSC viability is also presented. The influence of the cluster width on the conversion efficiency is researched showing a better performance when width and the cluster number are increased. The SLSC conversion efficiency is compared with the maximum conversion efficiency obtained for the MQWSC showing that it is reached an amazing increment of 4%.

A theoretical model is performed to study the viability of the AlGaAs/GaAs superlattice solar cell (SLSC). Using the Transfer Matrix Method, the conditions for resonant tunneling are established for a particular SL geometry with variably spaced quantum wells. The effective density of states and the absorption coefficient are calculated to determinate the J–V characteristic. Radiative, non‐radiative, and interface recombination were evaluated from a modeled SLSC, and their values were compared with a multiple quantum well solar cell of the same aluminum composition. A discussion about the conditions, where SLSC performance overcomes that of a multiple quantum well solar cell, is addressed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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A design of de GaAsP/InGaAs/GaAs solar cell is presented that allows to model high efficiency devices. The stress, tensile and compressive, are considered in order to compute the electron and hole dispersion relation E(k) in conduction and valence band. Similarly, the optical transitions in quantum well and barriers were evaluated to calculate the quantum internal efficiency and the photocurrent. GaAsP/InGaAs/GaAs solar cell is optimized to reach the maximum performance by means of J-V relation. Our model was used to determine the highest efficiencies for cells containing quantum wells under varying degrees of strain, showing that cells with strained quantum wells achieve high efficiencies.

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