Issue |
EPJ Photovolt.
Volume 9, 2018
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | 11 | |
Number of page(s) | 6 | |
Section | Modelling | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2018009 | |
Published online | 30 November 2018 |
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjpv/2018009
Regular Article
Beneficial impact of a thin tunnel barrier in quantum well intermediate-band solar cell
1
Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IM2NP UMR 7334,
13397
Marseille, France
2
NextPV, LIA, CNRS-RCAST/U, Tokyo-U, Bordeaux,
Tokyo
153-8904, Japan
3
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo,
Tokyo
153-8904, Japan
4
LIMMS, CNRS-Institute of Industrial Science, UMI 2820, University of Tokyo,
Tokyo
153-8505, Japan
5
IRDEP, UMR 7174 CNRS EDF Chimie ParisTech, EDF R&D,
Chatou, France
* e-mail: nicolas.cavassilas@im2np.fr
Received:
25
July
2018
Received in final form:
16
October
2018
Accepted:
19
October
2018
Published online: 30 November 2018
Based on electronic quantum transport modeling, we study the transition between the intermediate-band and the conduction-band in nano-structured intermediate-band solar cell. We show that a tunnel barrier between the quantum well (QW) and the host material could improve the current. The confinement generated by such a barrier favors the inter-subband optical coupling in the QW and then changes the excitation-collection trade-off. More surprisingly, we also show that tunneling impacts the radiative recombination and then the voltage. Using a detailed balance model we explain and we propose a broadening factor for this Voc modification. Finally we show that a thin tunnel barrier is beneficial for both current and voltage.
Key words: intermediate band solar cell / quantum modeling / quantum structures / intraband transition
© N. Cavassilas et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2018
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.