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Match-heads boost photovoltaic efficiency

Date:
December 11, 2015
Source:
Department of Energy, Office of Science
Summary:
Crystal growth on a nano/microscale level produces “match-head”-like, three-dimensional structures that enhance light absorption and photovoltaic efficiency. This is the first large structure grown on a nanowire tip and it creates a completely new architecture for harnessing energy.
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Crystal growth on a nano/microscale level results in the formation of "match-head"-like, three-dimensional structures that enhance light absorption and photovoltaic efficiency.

Match-head semiconductor nanowires focus incident light for greater overall efficiency. The match heads are naturally formed during the wire-growth process, which can be applied to various materials and structures for photonic and optoelectronic devices. This is the first large structure grown on a nanowire tip and it creates a completely new architecture for harnessing energy.

Enhanced light absorption and efficient, photogenerated carrier collection are essential characteristics of highly efficient solar cells. Nanowires with embedded radial junctions are promising building blocks for highly efficient photovoltaics because of their ability to achieve these two characteristics. The new technology in this highlight provides a novel method for enhancing optical absorption and photovoltaic efficiency with crystal growth. Controlled silicon crystal growth on the tops of silicon wires creates a match-head structure. The match head acts as a light concentrator.

Light absorptance was increased by 36% and photovoltaic efficiency was increased by 20%. Because the match-head crystal is naturally grown and minimizes surface energy, this technique is applicable for a wide range of materials and device architectures to boost performance. The ability to control the shape of the nanostructure is essential for manufacturing next-generation semiconductor devices, such as photodetectors and light emitters.


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Materials provided by Department of Energy, Office of Science. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jinkyoung Yoo, Binh-Minh Nguyen, Ian H. Campbell, Shadi A. Dayeh, Paul Schuele, David Evans, S. Tom Picraux. Si Radialp-i-nJunction Photovoltaic Arrays with Built-In Light Concentrators. ACS Nano, 2015; 9 (5): 5154 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b00500

Cite This Page:

Department of Energy, Office of Science. "Match-heads boost photovoltaic efficiency." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 December 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151211132524.htm>.
Department of Energy, Office of Science. (2015, December 11). Match-heads boost photovoltaic efficiency. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151211132524.htm
Department of Energy, Office of Science. "Match-heads boost photovoltaic efficiency." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151211132524.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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