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Enhancing the Efficiency of Silicon-Based Solar Cells by the Piezo-Phototronic Effect.

Authors :
Zhu L
Wang L
Pan C
Chen L
Xue F
Chen B
Yang L
Su L
Wang ZL
Source :
ACS nano [ACS Nano] 2017 Feb 28; Vol. 11 (2), pp. 1894-1900. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jan 18.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Although there are numerous approaches for fabricating solar cells, the silicon-based photovoltaics are still the most widely used in industry and around the world. A small increase in the efficiency of silicon-based solar cells has a huge economic impact and practical importance. We fabricate a silicon-based nanoheterostructure (p <superscript>+</superscript> -Si/p-Si/n <superscript>+</superscript> -Si (and n-Si)/n-ZnO nanowire (NW) array) photovoltaic device and demonstrate the enhanced device performance through significantly enhanced light absorption by NW array and effective charge carrier separation by the piezo-phototronic effect. The strain-induced piezoelectric polarization charges created at n-doped Si-ZnO interfaces can effectively modulate the corresponding band structure and electron gas trapped in the n <superscript>+</superscript> -Si/n-ZnO NW nanoheterostructure and thus enhance the transport process of local charge carriers. The efficiency of the solar cell was improved from 8.97% to 9.51% by simply applying a static compress strain. This study indicates that the piezo-phototronic effect can enhance the performance of a large-scale silicon-based solar cell, with great potential for industrial applications.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1936-086X
Volume :
11
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
ACS nano
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
28085255
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6b07960