Realistic Detailed Balance Study of the Quantum Efficiency of Quantum Dot Solar Cells. (5th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mellor, Alexander; Luque, Antonio; Tobías, Ignacio; Martí, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 24:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 339
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2013-08-05
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201301513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>An attractive but challenging technology for high efficiency solar energy conversion is the intermediate band solar cell (IBSC), whose theoretical efficiency limit is 63%, yet which has so far failed to yield high efficiencies in practice. The most advanced IBSC technology is that based on quantum dots (QDs): the QD‐IBSC. In this paper, k·p calculations of photon absorption in the QDs are combined with a multi‐level detailed balance model. The model has been used to reproduce the measured quantum efficiency of a real QD‐IBSC and its temperature dependence. This allows the analysis of individual sub‐bandgap transition currents, which has as yet not been possible experimentally, yielding a deeper understanding of the failure of current QD‐IBSCs. Based on the agreement with experimental data, the model is believed to be realistic enough to evaluate future QD‐IBSC proposals.</p> </abstract>