Above-11%-Efficiency Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Solar Cells with Omnidirectional Harvesting Characteristics by Employing Hierarchical Photon-Trapping Structures

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 3658 - 3663
• Main Authors: Wei, Wan-Rou, Tsai, Meng-Lin, Ho, Shu-Te, Tai, Shih-Hsiang, Ho, Cherng-Rong, Tsai, Shin-Hung, Liu, Chee-Wee, Chung, Ren-Jei, He, Jr-Hau
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 14.08.2013
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Current carriers; Diffusion; Diffusion in nanoscale solids; Diffusion in solids; Energy; Energy conversion efficiency; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructure; Nanowires; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Quantum wires; Silicon; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic); omnidirectionality; pγhoton management; heterojunction; Si; Hybrid solar cells; Solar cell; Trapping; Organic-inorganic hybrid materials; Hybrid material; p n junction; Silicon; Nanowires; Diffusion; Current density; Nanostructured materials; Angle of incidence; Photovoltaic cell
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl401540h

Hierarchical structures consisting of micropyramids and nanowires are used in Si/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cells to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 11.48% with excellent omnidirectionality. The structure provides a combined concepts of superior light trapping ability, significant increase of p–n junction areas, and short carrier diffusion distance, improving the photovoltaic characteristics including short-circuit current density, fill factor, and PCE. The enhancement of power generation is up to 253.8% at high incident angles, showing the outstanding omnidirectional operation ability of hybrid cells with hierarchical Si surfaces. This properly designed hierarchical-structured device paves a promising way for developing low-cost, high-efficiency, and omnidirectional solar applications in the future.