Publication date: 27th June 2014
The most important limitation for efficiency of photovoltaic energy conversion appears due to the mismatch between the broad-band character of the solar radiation and the discrete operation mode of solar devices, as determined by the specific bandgap energy of the active medium. One remedy for that would be the spectral transformation of the solar radiation before it enters a photovoltaic device. Specifically, such a “solar shaper” should split the large energy photons into smaller ones, whose conversion efficiency is optimal. On the low-energy side, the shaper could “paste” together IR photons thus bringing them into the operational range of the device.
In my presentation, I will discuss how shaping of the solar spectrum can be achieved using layers of Si nanocrystals with and without Er doping. In such systems efficient photon transformation can be realized by quantum cutting [1] and/or emission from Er3+ ions sensitized by Si nanocrystals [2]. Also the recently identified [3] ultra-efficient colloidal Si nanocrystals can be used for the purpose. I will present evaluation of external quantum efficiency of emission from thin layers of Si nanocrystals in SiO2 and its evolution upon introduction of Er3+ ions. Using differently prepared materials I will evaluate how this can be maximized. I will also discuss energy efficiency of solar shapers based on Si nanocrystals and Er3+ ions. In a separate part, I will discuss also strategies how Si nanocrystals can be employed for quantum “pasting” by which low-energy photons could be used in photovoltaic conversion by a standard Si solar cell [4].
[1] M.T. Trinh, R. Limpens, W.D.A.M. de Boer, J.M. Schins, L.D.A. Siebbeles, and T. Gregorkiewicz, Nature Photonics 6, 316-321 (2012).[2] S. Saeed and T. Gregorkiewicz, under consideration[3] K. Dohnalova, A.N. Poddubny, A.A. Prokofiev, W.D.A.M. de Boer, Ch.P. Umesh, J.M.J. Paulusse, H. Zuilhof, and T. Gregorkiewicz, NPG Light: Science and Applications 2, e47 (2013)[4] F. Priolo, T. Gregorkiewicz, M. Galli, and T. Krauss, Nature Nanotechnology 9, 19 (2014)
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