Quantum dot solar cells

Aroutiounian, V. M.; Petrosyan, S. I.; Khachatryan, A.; Touryan, K. J.

doi:10.1063/1.1339210

Cited by 241 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Insertion of impurity levels in the bandgap of photovoltaic materials to excite carriers by photons with energies lower than the bandgap is proposed [87,88]. Quantum well (QW) or quantum dot (QD) structures can also enable photons of lower energy than the bandgap of the original photovoltaic material to be absorbed by QWs/QDs with narrower bandgap incorporated in the original material [63,[89][90][91]. The carriers or excitons generated in the QWs/QDs can thermally escape onto the conduction band for electrons or valence band for holes to contribute to the total photocurrent enhancement ideally maintaining the photovoltage of the original material, as schematically depicted in Figure 15.…”

Section: Utilization Of Lower Energy Photonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

156

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Solar cells are a promising renewable, carbon-free electric energy resource to address the fossil fuel shortage and global warming. Energy conversion efficiencies around 40% have been recently achieved in laboratories using III-V semiconductor compounds as photovoltaic materials. This article reviews the efforts and accomplishments made for higher efficiency III-V semiconductor compound solar cells, specifically with multijunction tandem, lower-dimensional, photonic up/down conversion, and plasmonic metallic structures. Technological strategies for further performance improvement from the most efficient (Al)InGaP/(In)GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells including the search for 1.0 eV bandgap semiconductors are discussed. Lower-dimensional systems such as quantum well and dot structures are being intensively studied to realize multiple exciton generation and multiple photon absorption to break the conventional efficiency limit. Implementation of plasmonic metallic nanostructures manipulating photonic energy flow directions to enhance sunlight absorption in thin photovoltaic semiconductor materials is also emerging.

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Section: Utilization Of Lower Energy Photonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Tanabe

2009

Energies

156

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“…Moreover, those quantum processes must be consolidate with other effects that might otherwise hinder the sought high efficiency devices. Quantum properties of low-dimensional structured materials are very attractive for designing unique solar cells (Aroutiounian et al, 2001;Nozik, 2002;Luque & Hegedus, 2003;Fig. 11.…”

Section: Design Of Ib Solar Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Mechanics Design of Two Photon Processes Based Solar Cells

Karoui¹,

Kechiantz²

2012

Some Applications of Quantum Mechanics

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“…Though the true costs of scaling up CQD solar cell manufacturing to the gigawatt power scale are unknown, they are expected to be similar to those for organic photovoltaics [36] because of the similarities in materials, synthesis, and growth processes involved in the two technologies. Second, the steady rise in device efficiencies may indicate that CQD films combine the benefits of bulk semiconductors with those of solution-processed molecular materials [37][38][39]. Third, CQDs possess unique optical and electrical properties that could potentially be harnessed in strategies for overcoming the single junction ShockleyQueisser efficiency limit [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic technology

et al. 2016

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Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are attractive materials for solar cells due to their low cost, ease of fabrication and spectral tunability. Progress in CQD photovoltaic technology over the past decade has resulted in power conversion efficiencies approaching 10%. In this review, we give an overview of this progress, and discuss limiting mechanisms and paths for future improvement in CQD solar cell technology. We briefly summarize nanoparticle synthesis and film processing methods and evaluate the optoelectronic properties of CQD films, including the crucial role that surface ligands play in materials performance. We give an overview of device architecture engineering in CQD solar cells. The compromise between carrier extraction and photon absorption in CQD photovoltaics is analyzed along with different strategies for overcoming this trade-off. We then focus on recent advances in absorption enhancement through innovative device design and the use of nanophotonics. Several light-trapping schemes, which have resulted in large increases in cell photocurrent, are described in detail. In particular, integrating plasmonic elements into CQD devices has emerged as a promising approach to enhance photon absorption through both near-field coupling and far-field scattering effects. We also discuss strategies for overcoming the single junction efficiency limits in CQD solar cells, including tandem architectures, multiple exciton generation and hybrid materials schemes. Finally, we offer a perspective on future directions for the field and the most promising paths for achieving higher device efficiencies.

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Quantum dot solar cells

Cited by 241 publications

References 9 publications

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

A Review of Ultrahigh Efficiency III-V Semiconductor Compound Solar Cells: Multijunction Tandem, Lower Dimensional, Photonic Up/Down Conversion and Plasmonic Nanometallic Structures

Quantum Mechanics Design of Two Photon Processes Based Solar Cells

Advancing colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic technology

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