Abstract
We have developed quantitative device-physics models for a radial pn junction nanorod solar cell, that is, a cell which consists of densely packed nanorods attached to a conducting substrate, each nanorod with a pn junction in the radial direction. It is found that this novel design shows large improvements over the planar geometry so long as two conditions are satisfied: a) a planar solar cell made from the same material is collection limited, i.e. the diffusion length of minority carriers is too low to allow for collection of most or all of the light-generated carriers in the conventional planar geometry, and b) recombination in the depletion region is not too high, or, equivalently, the lifetime of carriers in the depletion region is not too short. In order to experimentally validate this concept, the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of silicon (Si) nanorods has been explored using metal catalyst particles that are not as deleterious to the minority carrier lifetime of Si as gold (Au), the most commonly used wire growth catalyst.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference |
| Pages | 55-58 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
| Event | 31st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2005 - Lake Buena Vista, FL, United States Duration: Jan 3 2005 → Jan 7 2005 |
Other
| Other | 31st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2005 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Lake Buena Vista, FL |
| Period | 1/3/05 → 1/7/05 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Control and Systems Engineering
Cite this
Radial PN junction nanorod solar cells : Device physics principles and routes to fabrication in silicon. / Kayes, Brendan M.; Richardson, Christine E.; Lewis, Nathan S; Atwater, Harry A.
Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. 2005. p. 55-58.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Radial PN junction nanorod solar cells
T2 - Device physics principles and routes to fabrication in silicon
AU - Kayes, Brendan M.
AU - Richardson, Christine E.
AU - Lewis, Nathan S
AU - Atwater, Harry A.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - We have developed quantitative device-physics models for a radial pn junction nanorod solar cell, that is, a cell which consists of densely packed nanorods attached to a conducting substrate, each nanorod with a pn junction in the radial direction. It is found that this novel design shows large improvements over the planar geometry so long as two conditions are satisfied: a) a planar solar cell made from the same material is collection limited, i.e. the diffusion length of minority carriers is too low to allow for collection of most or all of the light-generated carriers in the conventional planar geometry, and b) recombination in the depletion region is not too high, or, equivalently, the lifetime of carriers in the depletion region is not too short. In order to experimentally validate this concept, the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of silicon (Si) nanorods has been explored using metal catalyst particles that are not as deleterious to the minority carrier lifetime of Si as gold (Au), the most commonly used wire growth catalyst.
AB - We have developed quantitative device-physics models for a radial pn junction nanorod solar cell, that is, a cell which consists of densely packed nanorods attached to a conducting substrate, each nanorod with a pn junction in the radial direction. It is found that this novel design shows large improvements over the planar geometry so long as two conditions are satisfied: a) a planar solar cell made from the same material is collection limited, i.e. the diffusion length of minority carriers is too low to allow for collection of most or all of the light-generated carriers in the conventional planar geometry, and b) recombination in the depletion region is not too high, or, equivalently, the lifetime of carriers in the depletion region is not too short. In order to experimentally validate this concept, the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of silicon (Si) nanorods has been explored using metal catalyst particles that are not as deleterious to the minority carrier lifetime of Si as gold (Au), the most commonly used wire growth catalyst.
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M3 - Conference contribution
SP - 55
EP - 58
BT - Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
ER -