Au-Cu2O core-shell nanowire photovoltaics

Abstract

Semiconductor nanowires are among the most promising candidates for next generation photovoltaics. This is due to their outstanding optical and electrical properties which provide large optical cross sections while simultaneously decoupling the photon absorption and charge carrier extraction length scales. These effects relax the requirements for both the minority carrier diffusion length and the amount of semiconductor needed. Metal-semiconductor core-shell nanowires have previously been predicted to show even better optical absorption than solid semiconductor nanowires and offer the additional advantage of a local metal core contact. Here, we fabricate and analyze such a geometry using a single Au-Cu2O core-shell nanowire photovoltaic cell as a model system. Spatially resolved photocurrent maps reveal that although the minority carrier diffusion length in the Cu2O shell is less than 1 μm, the radial contact geometry with the incorporated metal electrode still allows for photogenerated carrier collection along an entire nanowire. Current-voltage measurements yield an open-circuit voltage of 600 mV under laser illumination and a dark diode turn-on voltage of 1 V. This study suggests the metal-semiconductor core-shell nanowire concept could be extended to low-cost, large-scale photovoltaic devices, utilizing for example, metal nanowire electrode grids coated with epitaxially grown semiconductor shells.

Assembly synthesis of Cu2O-on-Cu nanowires with visible-light-enhanced photocatalytic activity

“…Cu metals with high carrier transport rates can serve as transport channels between semiconductor materials. 35 The coupling of Cu and Cu 2 O into a heteroarchitecture can effectively facilitate the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes between Cu and Cu 2 O, and the performance of the material can be greatly enhanced. 36 Furthermore, doping Cu 2 O with transition metal Cu to narrow the band gap can enhance the absorption of visible light.…”

Monocrystalline Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskite Materials for Photovoltaics

“…This peculiarity could be further exploited by designing smart device architectures to orthogonalize light absorption and carrier collection, such as those based on vertical nanowires, [ 164 ] or by applying nanophotonics concepts to enhance the effective optical path. [ 97,162,163 ] [ 237 ] A combination of these approaches could lead to larger PCE for ultrathin MAPI solar cells that takes full advantage of the indirect bandgap without suffering from bulk recombination.…”

Modified Absorption and Emission Properties Leading to Intriguing Applications in Plasmonic–Excitonic Nanostructures

“…[ 101 ] Moreover, minority carrier (majorly responsible for photocurrent generation) diffusion length also gets significantly enhanced by incorporation of metallic nanostructures to SNCs. [ 367 ]…”

“…[101] Moreover, minority carrier (majorly responsible for photocurrent generation) diffusion length also gets significantly enhanced by incorporation of metallic nanostructures to SNCs. [367] Plasmonic nanostructures positioned with respect to SNCs also required to be properly engineered as near field antenna effect created by PNPs are valid up to 100 nm or less and at greater separations they may block light to SNCs present behind them. To explore this, a detailed study based on solar devices was conducted in which variation in device parameters (short-circuit current density-J sc , open-circuit voltage-V oc , fill factor (FF), and PCE) recognized with change in Ag NC position from FTO covered glass plate, shown in Figure 21f.…”