HIT intermediate-band solar cells with self-assembled colloidal quantum dots and metal nanoparticles

Ignacio Tobias, Manuel J. Mendes, Alfredo Boronat, Esther Lopez, Pablo Garcia-Linares, Irene Artacho, Antonio Marti, Santiago Silvestre, Antonio Luque

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Title of host publication2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
ISBN (Electronic)9781479979448
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Dec 2015
Event42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: 14 Jun 201519 Jun 2015

Conference

Conference42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference, PVSC 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period14/06/1519/06/15

Keywords

  • Nanoparticles
  • nanowires
  • photovoltaic cells
  • plasmons
  • PV quantum dots
  • quantum wells

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