[en] Research for third generation solar cell technology has been driven by the need to overcome the efficiency and cost problems encountered by current crystalline Si- and thin-film-based solar cells. Using first-principles methods, Ge/Si and Si/Ge core/shell and Si-Ge layered nanowires are shown to possess the required qualities for an efficient use in photovoltaic applications. We investigate the details of their band structure, effective mass, absorption property, and charge-carrier localization. The strong charge separation and improved absorption in the visible spectrum indicate a remarkable quantum efficiency that, combined with new designs, compares positively with bulk Si.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Pekoz, Rengin
Malcioglu, Osman Baris ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique de la matière condensée
Raty, Jean-Yves ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique de la matière condensée
Language :
English
Title :
First-principles design of efficient solar cells using two-dimensional arrays of core-shell and layered SiGe nanowires
Publication date :
2011
Journal title :
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
ISSN :
1098-0121
eISSN :
1550-235X
Publisher :
American Physical Society, United States - Maryland
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