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Photon Absorption Models in Nanostructured Semiconductor Solar Cells and Devices

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology ((BRIEFSAPPLSCIENCES))

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Abstract

This chapter starts with a description of quantum wells and quantum dots. Bandgap tuning using quantum wells is described. It is explained how quantum dots can be used to fabricate an intermediate band solar cell: a third generation concept that should allow the current of a solar cell to be increased without reducing its voltage. A description is given of the state of the art of solar cells containing quantum wells and of intermediate band solar cells made with quantum dots. Quantum well solar cells have been able to produce efficiencies similar to their bulk counterparts, but their tunable bandgaps make then attractive. Present intermediate band solar cells only demonstrate a small increase in generated photocurrent and their voltage is reduced, usually leading to cells that present efficiencies that are lower, or only marginally higher, than single gap counterparts. These issues are examined in this chapter and their origin is described. In all cases, the weak light absorption caused by the quantum structures is a main cause of unsatisfactory performance. This is the main topic of this book: the study of the light absorption by the nanostructures. The chapter ends with a description of the whole book.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solar Energy Institute, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Luque & Alexander Virgil Mellor

  2. Nanostructured Solar Cells Laboratory, Ioffe Physical Technical Institute, St Petersburg, 194021, Russia

    Antonio Luque

  3. Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Alexander Virgil Mellor

Authors
  1. Antonio Luque
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  2. Alexander Virgil Mellor
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Correspondence to Antonio Luque .

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Luque, A., Mellor, A.V. (2015). Introduction. In: Photon Absorption Models in Nanostructured Semiconductor Solar Cells and Devices. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14538-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14538-9_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-14537-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-14538-9

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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