Modeling photovoltaic performance in periodic patterned colloidal quantum dot solar cells

Journal Article · Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Optics Express

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.00A779· OSTI ID:1457340

Fu, Yulan ^[1]; Dinku, Abay G. ^[1]; Hara, Yukihiro ^[1]; Miller, Christopher W. ^[1]; Vrouwenvelder, Kristina T. ^[1]; Lopez, Rene ^[1]

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy

Colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solar cells have attracted tremendous attention mostly due to their wide absorption spectrum window and potentially low processability cost. The ultimate efficiency of CQD solar cells is highly limited by their high trap state density. Here in this paper we show that the overall device power conversion efficiency could be improved by employing photonic structures that enhance both charge generation and collection efficiencies. By employing a two-dimensional numerical model, we have calculated the characteristics of patterned CQD solar cells based of a simple grating structure. Our calculation predicts a power conversion efficiency as high as 11.2%, with a short circuit current density of 35.2 mA/cm², a value nearly 1.5 times larger than the conventional flat design, showing the great potential value of patterned quantum dot solar cells.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0006416
• OSTI ID: 1457340
• Journal Information: Optics Express, Vol. 23, Issue 15; ISSN 1094-4087
• Publisher: Optical Society of America (OSA)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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