Modeling and characterization of nanowire solar cells

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This project will undertake detailed investigation of a new type of solar cell based on semiconductor nanowires, involving both computer simulation and device characterization. Presently, the photovoltaics market is segmented into two disparate regimes. The first utilizes moderate cost, moderate efficiency silicon solar cells in flat panel configurations. The second uses very high cost, very high efficiency III-V semiconductor devices within reflective and/or refractive optical systems designed to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area of active photovoltaic device. The suitability of each system is highly dependent upon the solar resource and environmental conditions of the deployment location. The aim of the nanowire solar cell development is to provide additional options in the design space between the two existing regimes, by either improving the efficiency of the first case or reducing the cost of the second case. To that end, a computer model will be established for full optoelectronic simulations of the nanowire solar cell. Several key parameters will be varied to optimize the design, including the diameter, height, and spacing of the nanowire elements. To verify and refine these simulations, manufactured nanowire solar cells will be characterized for their current-voltage behavior and quantum efficiency over the ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelength region. The results from this project will establish a working computer model for this type of solar cell that will be extensible to new materials and more complicated multi-junction structures for higher performance devices.