Strong enhancement of solar cell efficiency due to quantum dots with built-in charge.

Sablon, Kimberly A; Little, John W; Mitin, Vladimir; Sergeev, Andrei; Vagidov, Nizami; Reinhardt, Kitt · Nano Lett · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We report a 50% increase in the power conversion efficiency of InAs/GaAs quantum dot solar cells due to n-doping of the interdot space. The n-doped device was compared with GaAs reference cell, undoped, and p-doped devices. We found that the quantum dots with built-in charge (Q-BIC) enhance electron intersubband quantum dot transitions, suppress fast electron capture processes, and preclude deterioration of the open circuit voltage in the n-doped structures. These factors lead to enhanced harvesting and efficient conversion of IR energy in the Q-BIC solar cells.

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