Abstract
The particular opto-electronic properties of chemically synthesized colloidal nanoparticles can be promising for functional materials, as those required for high efficient photovoltaic (PV) devices. In particular, appropriately-designed semiconductor colloids (quantum dots, QDs) can potentially allow sub-bandgap current generation in intermediate-band solar cells; while metal nanoparticles (MNPs) sustaining surface plasmons can provide both near and far-field light trapping to further boost the generated power. However, the incorporation of colloidal particles in inorganic PV materials is not trivial, therefore their implementation has so far been restricted to organic/polymeric based solar cells. In this work, PbS colloidal QDs have been incorporated in the intrinsic a-Si:H layer of HIT (substrate/a-Si:H hetero-junction) test structures. Both c-Si and GaAs substrates have been used, and in some cases colloidal Au NPs have also been included. The obtained devices are meant as probes to verify the feasibility of incorporating foreign nanoparticles in a cell structure and not as potentially efficient solar cells. Despite the radical novelties incorporated, the devices behaved similarly to the references, thus proving the compatibility of the proposed materials and processes.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | 2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 |
Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781479979448 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Dec 2015 |
Event | 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 - New Orleans, United States Duration: 14 Jun 2015 → 19 Jun 2015 |
Conference
Conference | 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 |
---|---|
Country/Territory | United States |
City | New Orleans |
Period | 14/06/15 → 19/06/15 |
Keywords
- Nanoparticles
- nanowires
- photovoltaic cells
- plasmons
- PV quantum dots
- quantum wells