Three-dimensional nanopillar-array photovoltaics on low-cost and flexible substrates

Abstract

Solar energy represents one of the most abundant and yet least harvested sources of renewable energy. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in developing photovoltaics that can be potentially mass deployed. Of particular interest to cost-effective solar cells is to use novel device structures and materials processing for enabling acceptable efficiencies. In this regard, here, we report the direct growth of highly regular, single-crystalline nanopillar arrays of optically active semiconductors on aluminium substrates that are then configured as solar-cell modules. As an example, we demonstrate a photovoltaic structure that incorporates three-dimensional, single-crystalline n-CdS nanopillars, embedded in polycrystalline thin films of p-CdTe, to enable high absorption of light and efficient collection of the carriers. Through experiments and modelling, we demonstrate the potency of this approach for enabling highly versatile solar modules on both rigid and flexible substrates with enhanced carrier collection efficiency arising from the geometric configuration of the nanopillars.

Piezo‐Phototronic Effect Enhanced Flexible Solar Cells Based on n‐ZnO/p‐SnS Core–Shell Nanowire Array

“…On the one hand, J SC exhibits a near‐linear dependency on the intensity, which is due to that the photocurrent in this regime is proportional to the photon flux or the carrier generation rate with a constant minority carrier lifetime. On the other hand, V OC increases only slightly from 0.47 to 0.52 V with the increase of intensity, which can be attributed to a slight thermal heating of the device 20, 21. The fill factor FF decreases slightly with illumination intensity.…”

Paper‐Based Electrodes for Flexible Energy Storage Devices

“…Electronic or optoelectronic components on flexible substrates enable novel applications, such as flexible display, electronic textile, artificial electronic skin, distributed sensors, etc 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Whilst various flexible electronics are commercially available nowadays, the development of flexible energy and power sources for these devices is slow 10, 11.…”

Tuning Light Absorption in Core/Shell Silicon Nanowire Photovoltaic Devices through Morphological Design

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] For example, the optical properties of arrays of nano-and microscale wires have been exploited for enhanced light absorption in photovoltaic devices, [16][17][18][19] however, the ability to substantially manipulate absorption in individual nanoscale structures has not been well established. In order to quantify optical resonances supported in individual NWs, scattering [20][21][22] and absorption cross-sections 5,6,11,[23][24][25][26] have been measured or calculated.…”