Application of Surface-Engineered Silicon Nanocrystals with Quantum Confinement and Nanocarbon Materials in Solar Cells

2015 ◽  
pp. 369-394
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Quantum Confinement ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals ◽  
Nanocarbon Materials

scholarly journals Electronic interactions of silicon nanocrystals and nanocarbon materials: Hybrid solar cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. 2629-2639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Švrček ◽  
Davide Mariotti
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Gap ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Hybrid Solar Cells ◽  
Exciton Dissociation ◽  
Electronic Interactions ◽  
Nanocarbon Materials

Hybrid inorganic/nanocarbon solar cells represent low-cost solutions for the large-scale manufacturing of energy conversion devices. Here we discuss results that relate to the electronic interactions of nanocarbon materials with freestanding and surfactant-free silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) with quantum confinement effects, integrated in bulk-heterojunction solar cells. In particular, we demonstrate the feasibility of bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic solar cells that consist of Si-ncs combined with fullerenes or with semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We show that the energy levels between Si-ncs with energy gap exceeding 1.75 eV and fullerenes are adequate for exciton dissociation and carriers (electrons/holes) generation and that hybrid solar cells formed by Si-ncs and semi-conducting SWCNTs favor exciton dissociation only when a distinct chiral index [i.e., (7,5)] is used. While fullerenes show energy conversion capabilities in the visible spectral region (1.7–3.1 eV), the cells containing the SWCNTs, in comparison, have a considerably expanded optical response covering a broad range of the spectrum (0.9–3.1 eV).

Laser Induced Etching for Generation of Si Nanocrystals and Spectroscopic Investigation of Morphology

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
H.S. Mavi ◽  
S. Rath ◽  
Arun Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Confinement ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals ◽  
Laser Wavelength ◽  
Interconnected Network ◽  
Substrate Type ◽  
Argon Ion Laser ◽  
Si Nanocrystals ◽  
Ion Laser ◽  
Laser Induced Etching ◽  
Argon Ion

Laser-induced etching of silicon is used to generate silicon nanocrystals. The pore structure depends on the substrate type and etching laser wavelength. Porous silicon (PS) samples prepared by Nd:YAG laser (1.16 eV) etching of n-type substrate showed a fairly uniform and highly interconnected network of nearly circular pores separated by thin columnar boundaries, while no circular pits were produced by argon- ion laser (2.41 eV) etching under similar conditions. The size and size distribution of the nanocrystals are investigated by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies and analyzed within the framework of quantum confinement models.

scholarly journals Depth-Resolved Microspectroscopy of Porous Silicon Multilayers

1999 ◽  
Vol 588 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Manotas ◽  
F. Agulló-Rueda ◽  
J. D. Moreno ◽  
R. J. Martín-Palma ◽  
R. Guerrero-Lemus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porous Silicon ◽  
Quantum Confinement ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals ◽  
Phonon Frequency ◽  
Lattice Mismatch ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Phonon Confinement ◽  
Heating Effects ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractWe have measured micro-photoluminescence (PL) and micro-Raman spectra on the cross section of porous silicon multilayers to sample different layer depths. We find noticeable differences in the spectra of layers with different porosity, as expected from the quantum confinement of electrons and phonons in silicon nanocrystals with different average sizes. The PL emission band gets stronger, blue shifts, and narrows at the high porosity layers. The average size can be estimated from the shift. The Raman phonon band at 520 cm−1 weakens and broadens asymmetrically towards the low energy side. The line shape can be related quantitatively with the average size by the phonon confinement model. To get a good agreement with the model we add a band at around 480 cm−1, which has been attributed to amorphous silicon. We also have to leave as free parameters the bulk silicon phonon frequency and its line width, which depend on temperature and stress. We reduced laser power to eliminate heating effects. Then we use the change of frequency with depth to monitor the stress. At the interface with the substrate we find a compressive stress in excess of 10 kbar, which agrees with the reported lattice mismatch. Finally, average sizes are larger than those estimated from PL.

Photoluminescence of size-separated silicon nanocrystals: Confirmation of quantum confinement

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (25) ◽  
pp. 4834-4836 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ledoux ◽  
J. Gong ◽  
F. Huisken ◽  
O. Guillois ◽  
C. Reynaud
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Confinement ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals

scholarly journals New Results in Optical Modelling of Quantum Well Solar Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvian Fara ◽  
Paul Sterian ◽  
Laurentiu Fara ◽  
Mihai Iancu ◽  
Andreea Sterian
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Quantum Well ◽  
Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Quantum Efficiency ◽  
Quantum Confinement ◽  
Quantum Confinement Effect ◽  
Refraction Index ◽  
Absorption Process ◽  
Optical Modelling

This project brought further advancements to the quantum well solar cell concept proposed by Keith Barnham. In this paper, the optical modelling of MQW solar cells was analyzed and we focussed on the following topics: (i) simulation of the refraction index and the reflectance, (ii) simulation of the absorption coefficient, (iii) simulation of the quantum efficiency for the absorption process, (iv) discussion and modelling of the quantum confinement effect, and (v) evaluation of datasheet parameters of the MQW cell.

Silicon nanocrystals as light converter for solar cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 451-452 ◽  
pp. 384-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Švrček ◽  
A. Slaoui ◽  
J.-C. Muller
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals

Hybrid Solar Cells From Silicon Nanocrystals and Conductive Polymers

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Yi Liu ◽  
Uwe R. Kortshagen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conjugated Polymer ◽  
Silicon Nanocrystals ◽  
Conductive Polymers ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Hybrid Solar Cells ◽  
Incident Photon ◽  
Direct Illumination

Hybrid solar cells based on blends of a conjugated polymer, poly-3(hexylthiophene) (P3HT), and silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) have been developed and characterized. The properties of composite Si NCs/P3HT films which were spun from 1, 2-dichlorobenzene were studied. Under A.M. 1.5 direct illumination conditions (100mW/cm2), devices made with 50wt% 3–5nm Si NCs showed 1.33% power conversion efficiency (PCE) and had a 30% incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency at 470 nm.

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