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Design and Numerical Simulation on the Optical and Electrical Behavior of a ZnO:Al Nanowire Array a-Si pin Solar Cell

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Chang-Wei Liu
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Chung Hsing University, Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, No. 250,Kuo-Kuang Rd.,, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
Zingway Pei
Affiliation:
[email protected],National Chung Hsing University,Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering,Taichung,40227,Taiwan,
Shu-Tong Chang
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Chung Hsing University, Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
Ren-Yui Ho
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Chung Hsing University, Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
Min-Wei Ho
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Chung Hsing University, Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
Yi-Chan Chen
Affiliation:
[email protected],Industrial Technology and Research Institute,Photovoltaics Technology Center,Hsinchu,310,Taiwan,
Chi-Lin Chen
Affiliation:
[email protected], Industrial Technology and Research Institute, Photovoltaics Technology Center, Hsinchu, 310, Taiwan
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Abstract

One of the parameters that limit the efficiency of a thin film solar cell, especially the a-Si and the nc-Si solar cell is the cell thickness. Although thicker film can absorb most of the sun light, the optical generated carriers will recombination through the numerous gap states in the film that obtained lower short circuit current and fill factor. In the controversy, thinner film could not absorb enough sun light that also limit the short circuit current. In this works, we utilize nanowire structure to solve the conflict between the light absorption and the carrier transport. The designed structure has ZnO:Al nanowire array on the substrate. The p-i-n a-Si solar cell structure is grown along the surface of each ZnO: Al nanowire sequentially. Under sunlight illumination, the light is absorbed in the axis direction of the nanowire. However, the carrier transport is along the radial direction of the solar cell. Therefore, the long nanowire could absorb most of the solar light. In the mean time, the thickness of the solar cell still is thin enough for photo-generated carrier transport. The dependence of short circuit current, open circuit voltage and fill factor to the length, diameter and density of ZnO:Al nanowires were simulated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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References

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