Radial junction Si micro/nano-wire array photovoltaics: Recent progress from theoretical investigation to experimental realization

• Published in: Nano energy Vol. 7; pp. 10 - 24
• Main Authors: Li, Yali, Chen, Qiang, He, Deyan, Li, Junshuai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carrier collection; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electronics; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Light management; Materials science; Molecular electronics, nanoelectronics; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Natural energy; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Quantum wires; Radial pn junctions; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Si micro/nano-wire arrays; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar cells; Carrier collection; Si micro/nano-wire arrays; Light management; Radial pn junctions; High performance; Photovoltaic system; p n junction; Experimental realization; Si micro/nano-wire; Photovoltaic cell; Array; Solar energy; Nanowires; arrays; Electrical characteristic
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2014.04.015

Radial pn junction Si micro/nano-wire arrays exhibit unique optical and electrical characteristics for building photovoltaic devices with high performance-to-cost ratios over traditional planar junction bulk Si structures. Through optimizing the structural parameters, such as wire diameter and array periodicity, antireflection even superior to the optimized antireflective coatings can be realized. In the meantime, excellent light confinement is easily achievable for Si micro/nano-wire arrays using much less materials compared to their bulk Si counterparts. From the electrical aspect, the radial pn junction configuration formed around the wires significantly reduces the minority carrier collection length along the radial direction, providing outstanding tolerance to material qualities. Owing to these charming properties, radial junction Si micro/nano-wire array-based solar cells have been attracting extensive attention. The power conversion efficiency has also made huge progress from <1% to the present >12% in less than 10 years. With cell performance improvement, the number of research papers regarding theoretical understanding and optimization of the optical and electrical processes, experimental reports of the related solar cells has also surged, also including review papers. Accordingly, in this paper we are focusing on the recent progress, following a brief but systematic introduction to the related topic. Then the issues needing to be addressed for further improving the optical and electrical structures and cell performance are summarized. Following that, several other advanced solar cells employing Si micro/nano-wire arrays as a platform are introduced. [Display omitted] •A comprehensive review on recent developments regarding boththeoretical investigation and experimental reports for Si micro/nano-wire array-based solar cells are presented.•An easily used explanationto illustrate optical behaviors in Si micro/nano-wire arrays is concluded, which is also applicable to other subwavelength structures.•Suggested device parameters including geometrical parameters, electrical parameters and issues regarding high quality wire preparation are summarized.•Several representative advanced solar cells employing Si micro/nano-wire arrays as a platformare introduced, such as 3D Si thin film solar cells.