Quantum dot (QD) solar cells have the potential to increase the maximum attainable thermodynamic conversion efficiency of solar photon conversion up to about 66% by utilizing hot photogenerated carriers to produce higher photovoltages or higher photocurrents.
A quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) is a solar cell design that uses quantum dots as the captivating photovoltaic material. It attempts to replace bulk materials such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) or cadmium telluride (CdTe). Quantum dots have bandgaps that are adjustable across a wide range of energy levels by changing their size.
Although a practical application of quantum dot solar cells has yet to be achieved, a large number of theoretical calculations and experimental studies have confirmed the potential for meeting the requirement for ultra-high conversion efficiency.
The operation principle of quantum dots sensitized solar cell is similar to that of the dye Figure 22. I-V characteristics of typical assembled quantum dot-dye sensitized solar cell. Quantum dots average size of
Quantum dot solar cells were suggested by Nozik et al. in 1997 to be capable of generating multiple low-energy excitons (electron-hole pairs) from a single photon versus one high-energy exciton in conventional solar cells.
The idea of the quantum dot solar cell, which provides a novel direction to the high-efficiency solar cell problem, is developed. A theoretical model is presented for a practical p-i-n quantum dot solar cell built on the base of the self-organized InAs/GaAs system.