Enhanced broadband spectral response and energy conversion efficiency for hetero-junction solar cells with graded-sized Si quantum dots/SiC multilayers. Issue 46 (5th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Yunqing; Xu, Jun; Ge, Zhaoyun; Zhai, Yingying; Li, Wei; Jiang, Xiaofan; Chen, Kunji
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 46(2015)
• Page Start: 12061
• Page End: 12067
• Publication Date: 2015-11-05
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5tc02585k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : We propose a novel structure of a graded-sized Si QDs/Si hetero-junction cell, which exhibits broadband spectral response and improved cell performance. Abstract : In order to circumvent the narrow spectral response of Si quantum dots (Si QDs)-based solar cells, a novel hetero-junction cell structure containing graded-sized QDs-based multilayers was proposed. The size of Si QDs varies from 8 nm to 2 nm which corresponds with the bandgap from 1.2 eV to 2.1 eV. The graded-sized Si QDs-based hetero-junction cell exhibits an enhanced spectral response in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 1200 nm, which is obviously improved compared with that of conventional Si QDs-based cells. Furthermore, by combining the graded-sized Si QDs multilayers with Si nanowire arrays, a Si QDs/Si NWs hetero-junction solar cell was fabricated and the corresponding power conversion efficiency can be as high as 12.80%, due to the significant spectral loss suppression and optical absorption enhancement by forming nano-patterned light trapping structures.