Hybrid silicon nanocone-polymer solar cells.
Nano Lett
; 12(6): 2971-6, 2012 Jun 13.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22545674
ABSTRACT
Recently, hybrid Si/organic solar cells have been studied for low-cost Si photovoltaic devices because the Schottky junction between the Si and organic material can be formed by solution processes at a low temperature. In this study, we demonstrate a hybrid solar cell composed of Si nanocones and conductive polymer. The optimal nanocone structure with an aspect ratio (height/diameter of a nanocone) less than two allowed for conformal polymer surface coverage via spin-coating while also providing both excellent antireflection and light trapping properties. The uniform heterojunction over the nanocones with enhanced light absorption resulted in a power conversion efficiency above 11%. Based on our simulation study, the optimal nanocone structures for a 10 µm thick Si solar cell can achieve a short-circuit current density, up to 39.1 mA/cm(2), which is very close to the theoretical limit. With very thin material and inexpensive processing, hybrid Si nanocone/polymer solar cells are promising as an economically viable alternative energy solution.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polymers
/
Electric Power Supplies
/
Silicon
/
Solar Energy
/
Nanostructures
Language:
En
Journal:
Nano Lett
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States