Nanowire solar cells: Electro-optical performance

Witzigmann B (2017)

Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes

Publication year: 2017

Publisher: CRC Press

Edited Volumes: Handbook of Optoelectronic Device Modeling and Simulation: Lasers, Modulators, Photodetectors, Solar Cells, and Numerical Methods

Book Volume: 2

Pages Range: 475-495

ISBN: 9781315152318

DOI: 10.4324/9781315152318

Abstract

Nanowire arrays show unique optical and electronic features for photovoltaic applications. It has been demonstrated that they exhibit intrinsic optical antireflection properties [1, 2]. Moreover, they also can act as optical microconcentrators [3] that focus light to an active region. Nanowires have a large aspect ratio, improving the electronic properties by combining a long optical absorption path along the wire axis and a short lateral carrier extraction [4]. Short carrier extraction paths are beneficial for the carrier collection efficiency. These mechanisms are illustrated in Figure 42.1. On the left, a conventional bulk solar cell collects light in the vertical direction, and the photogenerated carriers move to the respective contacts causing the photo current. A nanostructured solar cell (Figure 42.1a) can act as an optical concentrator in order to focus the incoming light to a small area. Moreover, the carrier extraction path length to the contacts is reduced, which minimizes the probability of carrier loss by unwanted recombination.

Authors with CRIS profile

Bernd Witzigmann

Involved external institutions

Universität Kassel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Witzigmann, B. (2017). Nanowire solar cells: Electro-optical performance. In Joachim Piprek (Eds.), Handbook of Optoelectronic Device Modeling and Simulation: Lasers, Modulators, Photodetectors, Solar Cells, and Numerical Methods. (pp. 475-495). CRC Press.

MLA:

Witzigmann, Bernd. "Nanowire solar cells: Electro-optical performance." Handbook of Optoelectronic Device Modeling and Simulation: Lasers, Modulators, Photodetectors, Solar Cells, and Numerical Methods. Ed. Joachim Piprek, CRC Press, 2017. 475-495.

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