Modelling of hot carrier solar cell absorbers

Conibeer, Gavin; Patterson, Robert; Huang, Lunmei; Guillemoles, Jean‐François; König, Dirk; Shrestha, Santosh; Green, Martin A.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2010.01.018

Cited by 84 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Following the same arguments that led to (4), the absence of interband processes implies that the electrochemical potential of the electrons in the CB, fj, i¡c , and the electrochemical potential of the electrons in the VB, fj, i¡v , are related to the energy of the states by (¿i,c = a C £i +b c (15) ¡j, i¡v = a V £i +b v (16) which implies that electrons in the CB can be regarded as having an energy-independent electrochemical potential and hot-carrier temperature given, respectively, by…”

Section: T Hmentioning

confidence: 90%

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Electrochemical Potentials (Quasi-Fermi Levels) and the Operation of Hot-Carrier, Impact-Ionization, and Intermediate-Band Solar Cells

Martı́

Ĺuque

2013

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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Abstract-In the framework of the so-called third generation solar cells, three main concepts have been proposed in order to exceed the limiting efficiency of single-gap solar cells: the hot-carrier solar cell, the impact-ionization or multiple-exciton-generation solar cell, and the intermediate-band solar cell. At first sight, the three concepts are different, but in this paper, we illustrate how all these concepts, including the single-gap solar cell, share a common trunk that we call "core photovoltaic material." We demonstrate that each one of these next-generation concepts differentiates in fact from this trunk depending on the hypotheses that are made about the physical principles governing the electron electrochemical potentials. In the process, we also clarify the differences between electron, phonon, and photon chemical potentials (the three fundamental particles involved in the operation of the solar cell). The in-depth discussion of the physics involved about the operation of these cells also provides new insights about the operation of these cells.

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Section: T Hmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The second method is to assume that electrons interact, not with all types of phonons but only with optical phonons [16]. Optical phonons are approximately stationary modes because their energy does not depend on the wave vector; thus, their group velocity in an ideal situation is zero.…”

Section: T Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical Potentials (Quasi-Fermi Levels) and the Operation of Hot-Carrier, Impact-Ionization, and Intermediate-Band Solar Cells

Martı́

Ĺuque

2013

IEEE J. Photovoltaics

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“…It has been suggested [9,10] that, since thermal coupling is produced with optical phonons, some materials like InN with large phononic band gap [7,8] might have a poor thermal coupling between optical and acoustic phonons. This behaviour has been also related to the phonon bottleneck in low-dimensional structures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No HC solar cell has been fabricated so far but an elegant concept has been suggested [9,10] for the thermal isolation of the electrons consisting of avoiding the thermal contact between acoustic and optical phonons while the latter are kept at the electrón temperature. We think that the confirmation of the feasibility of this mechanisms will require to determine the extent to which the an-harmonic interaction [11,12], among others, would allow the existence of two different temperatures for the phonons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electron–phonon energy transfer in hot-carrier solar cells

Ĺuque

Martı́

2010

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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“…Emission rate larger than decay can overpopulate the optical modes compared to their equilibrium population, and 'hot phonons' represent this excess occupancy [4]. Examples include high-power electronic devices [5], frustrated-vibration relaxation of chemisorbed molecules [6], lattice electron stoppage of charged fission fragments [7], and nonradiative decay of hot electrons in optoelectric devices [8]. These hot phonons are finally thermalized, converting their energy to waste heat and generating entropy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterobarrier for converting hot-phonon energy to electric potential

2013

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We show that hot phonons emitted in energy conversion or resistive processes can be converted to electric potential in heterobarrier structures. Using phonon and electron interaction kinetics and self-consistent ensemble Monte Carlo, we find the favorable conditions for unassisted absorption of hot phonons and design graded heterobarriers for their direct conversion into electric energy. Tandem barriers with nearly optical-phonon height allow for substantial potential gain without current loss. We find that 19% of hot phonons can be harvested with an optimized GaAs/Al x Ga 1−x As barrier structure over a range of current and electron densities, thus enhancing the overall energy conversion efficiency and reducing waste heat.

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Modelling of hot carrier solar cell absorbers

Cited by 84 publications

References 19 publications

Electrochemical Potentials (Quasi-Fermi Levels) and the Operation of Hot-Carrier, Impact-Ionization, and Intermediate-Band Solar Cells

Electrochemical Potentials (Quasi-Fermi Levels) and the Operation of Hot-Carrier, Impact-Ionization, and Intermediate-Band Solar Cells

Electron–phonon energy transfer in hot-carrier solar cells

Heterobarrier for converting hot-phonon energy to electric potential

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