Size-Dependent and Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of Solar Cells Based on Si Quantum Dots

Yunqing Cao, Ping Zhu, Dongke Li, Xianghua Zeng and Dan Shan
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Yunqing Cao: College of Physical Science and Technology, Institute of Optoelectronic Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Ping Zhu: College of Physical Science and Technology, Institute of Optoelectronic Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Dongke Li: National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and School of Electronic Science and Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Xianghua Zeng: College of Physical Science and Technology, Institute of Optoelectronic Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Dan Shan: National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and School of Electronic Science and Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Recently, extensive studies have focused on exploring a variety of silicon (Si) nanostructures among which Si quantum dots (Si QDs) may be applied in all Si tandem solar cells (TSCs) for the time to come. By virtue of its size tunability, the optical bandgap of Si QDs is capable of matching solar spectra in a broad range and thus improving spectral response. In the present work, size-controllable Si QDs are successfully obtained through the formation of Si QDs/SiC multilayers (MLs). According to the optical absorption measurement, the bandgap of Si QDs/SiC MLs shows a red shift to the region of long wavelength when the size of dots increases, well conforming to quantum confinement effect (QCE). Additionally, heterojunction solar cells (HSCs) based on Si QDs/SiC MLs of various sizes are presented and studied, which demonstrates the strong dependence of photovoltaic performance on the size of Si QDs. The measurement of external quantum efficiency (EQE) reveals the contribution of Si QDs to the response and absorption in the ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) light range. Furthermore, Si QDs/SiC MLs-based solar cell shows the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.15% by using nano-patterned Si light trapping substrates.

Keywords: Si QDs; silicon carbide; MLs; solar cells; size-dependent photovoltaic performance; nano-patterned structures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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