Abstract
Solar cells based on arrays of CVD-grown Si nano- or micro-wires are being considered as a potentially low-cost route to implementing a vertical multijunction cell design via radial p-n junctions. This geometry has been predicted to enable efficiencies competitive with planar multicrystalline Si designs, while reducing the materials and processing costs of solar cell fabrication [1]. To further assess the potential efficiency of cells based on this design, we present here experimental measurements of minority carrier diffusion lengths and surface recombination rates within nanowires via fabrication and characterization of single-wire solar cell devices. Furthermore, we consider a potential Si wire array-based solar cell design, and present device physics modeling of single-wire photovoltaic efficiency. Based on experimentally observed diffusion lengths within our wires, we model a radial junction wire solar cell capable of 17% photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
| Event | 33rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2008 - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: May 11 2008 → May 16 2008 |
Other
| Other | 33rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2008 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | San Diego, CA |
| Period | 5/11/08 → 5/16/08 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Control and Systems Engineering
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Cite this
Single-nanowire Si solar cells. / Kelzenberg, M. D.; Turner-Evans, D. B.; Kayes, B. M.; Filler, M. A.; Putnam, M. C.; Lewis, Nathan S; Atwater, H. A.
Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference. 2008. 4922736.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Single-nanowire Si solar cells
AU - Kelzenberg, M. D.
AU - Turner-Evans, D. B.
AU - Kayes, B. M.
AU - Filler, M. A.
AU - Putnam, M. C.
AU - Lewis, Nathan S
AU - Atwater, H. A.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Solar cells based on arrays of CVD-grown Si nano- or micro-wires are being considered as a potentially low-cost route to implementing a vertical multijunction cell design via radial p-n junctions. This geometry has been predicted to enable efficiencies competitive with planar multicrystalline Si designs, while reducing the materials and processing costs of solar cell fabrication [1]. To further assess the potential efficiency of cells based on this design, we present here experimental measurements of minority carrier diffusion lengths and surface recombination rates within nanowires via fabrication and characterization of single-wire solar cell devices. Furthermore, we consider a potential Si wire array-based solar cell design, and present device physics modeling of single-wire photovoltaic efficiency. Based on experimentally observed diffusion lengths within our wires, we model a radial junction wire solar cell capable of 17% photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency.
AB - Solar cells based on arrays of CVD-grown Si nano- or micro-wires are being considered as a potentially low-cost route to implementing a vertical multijunction cell design via radial p-n junctions. This geometry has been predicted to enable efficiencies competitive with planar multicrystalline Si designs, while reducing the materials and processing costs of solar cell fabrication [1]. To further assess the potential efficiency of cells based on this design, we present here experimental measurements of minority carrier diffusion lengths and surface recombination rates within nanowires via fabrication and characterization of single-wire solar cell devices. Furthermore, we consider a potential Si wire array-based solar cell design, and present device physics modeling of single-wire photovoltaic efficiency. Based on experimentally observed diffusion lengths within our wires, we model a radial junction wire solar cell capable of 17% photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879705480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84879705480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922736
DO - 10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922736
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84879705480
SN - 9781424416417
BT - Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
ER -