Optical and electrical simulations of two-junction III-V nanowires on Si solar cell

Bu, Shaojiang; Li, Xinhua; Wen, Long; Zeng, Xuesong; Zhao, Y. B.; Wang, Wenbo; Wang, Yuqi

doi:10.1063/1.4788750

Cited by 32 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Several publications have attempted to address this problem by the rational design of alternative nanowire‐based PV devices using electrical and optical simulation software 117, 118, 170–172. For example, the ability to grow nanowires on Si substrates has inspired the design of a two‐junction nanowire‐on‐Si solar cell 118, 173 shown in Fig. 4.…”

Section: Design For High Efficiency Pvmentioning

confidence: 99%

III–V nanowire photovoltaics: Review of design for high efficiency

LaPierre

Chia

Gibson

et al. 2013

Physica Rapid Research Ltrs

221

173

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1 Introduction Global energy demand is predicted to exceed 30 TW by 2050, about double the present value [1]. This predicament, known as the TeraWatt challenge, and concern over anthropogenic climate change, resource availability ("peak energy") and energy security have all increased the interest in renewable energy (hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass) [2]. One of the most promising renewable energy technologies is solar photovoltaics (PV) which convert sunlight directly into electrical energy. Although the resource potential of PV is enormous, it currently constitutes a small fraction (<1%) of global energy supply [2]. One of the main factors limiting the widespread adoption of PV is its low energy density, low efficiency, and relatively high cost in comparison to other energy technologies. This means that current PV technology can only compete in areas of high insolation or by government incentives such as feed-in tariff programs.One of the most relevant metrics for PV devices is the power conversion efficiency (PCE); that is, the efficiency with which sunlight can be converted to electrical power. A significant effort in PV research today aims to improve PCE while simultaneously reducing (or, at least, not significantly impacting) production cost. The vast majority of

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Section: Design For High Efficiency Pvmentioning

confidence: 99%

III–V nanowire photovoltaics: Review of design for high efficiency

LaPierre

Chia

Gibson

et al. 2013

Physica Rapid Research Ltrs

221

173

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“…LaPierre in his pioneering theoretical works [10,11] presented a first set of design rules for the perfectly absorbing III-V nanowire on silicon tandem cell. Then, a number of studies with more sophisticated coupled opto-electronic simulations of the system followed [12,13,14], exploring various aspects of cell design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technological guidelines for the design of tandem III-V nanowire on Si solar cells from opto-electrical simulations

Maryasin

Bucci

Rafhay

et al. 2017

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

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Effect of geometrical and structural parameters on the efficiency of the tandem solar cell based on the III-V nanowire array on silicon is studied by the means of coupled opto-electrical simulations. A close to realistic structure, consisting of AlGaAs core-shell nanowire array, connected through a tunnel diode to a Si subcell is modelled, revealing the impact of top contact layer, growth mask and tunnel junction. Optical simulation of the tandem structure under current matching condition determine optimal geometrical parameters of the nanowire array. They are then used in the extensive electrical optimization of the radial junction in the nanowire subcell. Device simulations show the necessity of high doping of the junction in order to avoid full shell depletion. The influence of bulk and surface recombination on the performance of the top subcell is studied, exposing the importance of the good surface passivation near the depleted region of the radial p − n junction. Finally, simulations of the fully optimized tandem structure show that a promising efficiency of η = 27.6% with the short-circuit current of J SC = 17.1 mA/cm 2 can be achieved with reasonable bulk and surface carrier lifetime.

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“…[1][2][3] To boost photovoltaic performance towards the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) limit, 4,5 effectively controlling the behaviors of photons and carriers within the SCs are critical. 6 However, one can hardly avoid the actual performance degradation arising from the impurity and trapping densities of semiconductor materials, 7 leading to the prominent photocurrent loss and voltage reduction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

Shang

et al. 2017

AIP Advances

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Photocurrent and voltage losses are the fundamental limitations for improving the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. It is indeed that a comprehensive and quantitative differentiation of the performance degradation in solar cells will promote the understanding of photovoltaic physics as well as provide a useful guidance to design highly-efficient and cost-effective solar cells. Based on optoelectronic simulation that addresses electromagnetic and carrier-transport responses in a coupled finite-element method, we report a detailed quantitative analysis of photocurrent and voltage losses in solar cells. We not only concentrate on the wavelength-dependent photocurrent loss, but also quantify the variations of photocurrent and operating voltage under different forward electrical biases. Further, the device output power and power losses due to carrier recombination, thermalization, Joule heat, and Peltier heat are studied through the optoelectronic simulation. The deep insight into the gains and losses of the photocurrent, voltage, and energy will contribute to the accurate clarifications of the performance degradation of photovoltaic devices, enabling a better control of the photovoltaic behaviors for high performance.

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Optical and electrical simulations of two-junction III-V nanowires on Si solar cell

Cited by 32 publications

References 25 publications

III–V nanowire photovoltaics: Review of design for high efficiency

III–V nanowire photovoltaics: Review of design for high efficiency

Technological guidelines for the design of tandem III-V nanowire on Si solar cells from opto-electrical simulations

Optoelectronic insights into the photovoltaic losses from photocurrent, voltage, and energy perspectives

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