CAREER: Strain Balanced Quantum Dots for High Concentration Solar Photovoltaics

职业：用于高聚光太阳能光伏发电的应变平衡量子点

• 批准号: 0955752
• 负责人: Seth Hubbard
• 金额: $ 45.48万
• 依托单位: Rochester Institute of Tech
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-04-01 至 2016-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0955752&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Strain; Balanced; Quantum; Dots

Technical: The research objective of this CAREER award is to address the fundamental materials research need for future high-efficiency solar cells. While existing studies suggest benefits of nanomaterials in enhancing solar cell efficiency, there remains a significant amount of fundamental materials research necessary for practical implementation. Examples include selection of the appropriate quantum confined materials system, study of the growth and incorporation mechanisms of epitaxial nanostructures into solar devices, and relation of the optical and electrical results to theoretical predictions. Additionally, high concentration photovoltaic systems must operate under elevated operating temperatures, thus degradation mechanisms in nanomaterials is a critical issue. The project is designed to investigate the following materials based topics: 1) vapor phase epitaxial growth and characterization of multi-layer stacks of group III-V quantum dots (QD) using a dot-barrier strain balancing technique; 2) analysis and demonstration of true wavefunction overlap and miniband formation in quantum dot solar cells using both optical and electrical characterization, and 3) study of degradation mechanisms in QD cells under variable environmental conditions. In all of the above, emphasis is placed on understanding the interplay between high quality vapor phase epitaxial growth of the quantum dot, nanostructured solar cell optical and electrical characterization, fundamental quantum mechanical predictions and subsequent carrier transport mechanisms. This project leverages existing activities in nanomaterials and solar cell development at the Rochester Institute of Technology NanoPower Research Labs and NASA Glenn Research Center.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. The success of the project is expected to have impacts on the further advancement of nanostructured materials for solar energy harvesting and, in general, nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research and education activities of the project are integrated. This project trains Ph.D. and undergraduate students in the emerging fields of nanotechnology and photovoltaics. Students have the opportunity to spend the summer at NASA Glenn Research Center's Photovoltaics and Power Technologies Branch, learning valuable skills involving nano-material growth and state-of-the-art solar cell characterization techniques. The knowledge gained from the research can be directly incorporated into developing both undergraduate and graduate level courses in next generation photovoltaics, thus involving an even lager body of students in renewable energy topics. Beyond the teaching aspect, the results of this project are planned to be disseminated through both publication and collaboration with companies such as Emcore Photovoltaics and Spectrolab.

技术：该CAREER奖的研究目标是解决未来高效太阳能电池的基础材料研究需求。虽然现有的研究表明纳米材料在提高太阳能电池效率方面的好处，但实际实施仍然需要大量的基础材料研究。例子包括选择适当的量子限制材料系统，研究外延纳米结构到太阳能器件中的生长和结合机制，以及光学和电学结果与理论预测的关系。此外，高浓度光伏系统必须在升高的工作温度下运行，因此纳米材料的降解机制是一个关键问题。本项目主要研究以下材料方面的问题：1）采用点势垒应变平衡技术的III-V族量子点（QD）多层堆叠的气相外延生长和表征; 2）使用光学和电学表征分析和证明量子点太阳能电池中的真实波函数重叠和微带形成，（3）研究了不同环境条件下QD电池的降解机理。在所有上述内容中，重点放在理解量子点的高质量气相外延生长，纳米结构太阳能电池的光学和电学特性，基本量子力学预测和随后的载流子传输机制之间的相互作用。该项目利用了罗切斯特理工学院纳米能源研究实验室和美国宇航局格伦研究中心在纳米材料和太阳能电池开发方面的现有活动。该项目的成功预计将对太阳能收集用纳米结构材料的进一步发展以及一般纳米科学和纳米技术产生影响。该项目的研究和教育活动是一体化的。本项目培养博士。以及纳米技术和光化学新兴领域的本科生。学生们有机会在NASA格伦研究中心的光化学和电力技术分支度过夏天，学习涉及纳米材料生长和最先进的太阳能电池表征技术的宝贵技能。从研究中获得的知识可以直接纳入开发下一代光化学的本科和研究生课程，从而使更多的学生参与可再生能源主题。除了教学方面，该项目的成果计划通过出版物和与Emcore Photophilics和Spectrolab等公司的合作来传播。