Efficient upconverted photocurrent through an Auger process in disklike InAs quantum structures for intermediate-band solar cells

The mechanisms of upconverted photocurrent in InAs quantum structures embedded in AlxGa1-xAs were studied with simultaneous measurements of photoluminescence and photocurrent spectra. Efficient upconversion was verified in samples with and without quantum dots. The dominant upconversion process from low temperatures to room temperature was found to occur through an Auger process in disklike InAs quantum structures. The results suggest the importance of shallow energy levels, which enable upconversion and efficient carrier extraction through multiparticle interactions. The disklike structure was concluded to be a suitable intermediate-band structure in terms of the energy conversion efficiency.