Fabrication and Characterization of Multiband Solar Cells Based on Highly Mismatched Alloys

López, N., Braña, A.F., Garcia Nunez, C. , Hernández, M.J., Cervera, M., Martínez, M., Yu, K.M., Walukiewicz, W. and García, B.J. (2015) Fabrication and Characterization of Multiband Solar Cells Based on Highly Mismatched Alloys. In: 19th International Conference on Electron Dynamics in Semiconductors, Optoelectronics and Nanostructures (EDISON'19), Salamanca, Spain, 29 June - 02 July 2015, 012067. (doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/647/1/012067)

Abstract

Multiband solar cells are one type of third generation photovoltaic devices in which an increase of the power conversion efficiency is achieved through the absorption of low energy photons while preserving a large band gap that determines the open circuit voltage. The ability to absorb photons from different parts of the solar spectrum originates from the presence of an intermediate energy band located within the band gap of the material. This intermediate band, acting as a stepping stone allows the absorption of low energy photons to transfer electrons from the valence band to the conduction band by a sequential two photons absorption process. It has been demonstrated that highly mismatched alloys offer a potential to be used as a model material system for practical realization of multiband solar cells. Dilute nitride GaAs1-xNx highly mismatched alloy with low mole fraction of N is a prototypical multiband semiconductor with a well-defined intermediate band. Currently, we are using chemical beam epitaxy to synthesize dilute nitride highly mismatched alloys. The materials are characterized by a variety of structural and optical methods to optimize their properties for multiband photovoltaic devices.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: Published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series 647(1):012067
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Garcia Nunez, Dr Carlos
• Authors: López, N., Braña, A.F., Garcia Nunez, C., Hernández, M.J., Cervera, M., Martínez, M., Yu, K.M., Walukiewicz, W., and García, B.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
• Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 1742-6588
• ISSN (Online): 1742-6596
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series 647: 012067
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a creative commons license