A metallic hot carrier photovoltaic cell

J. A. R. Dimmock; M. Kauer; P. N. Stavrinou; N. J. Ekins-Daukes

doi:10.1117/12.2077573

16 March 2015 A metallic hot carrier photovoltaic cell

J. A. R. Dimmock, M. Kauer, P. N. Stavrinou, N. J. Ekins-Daukes

Proceedings Volume 9358, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices IV; 935810 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2077573
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Hot carrier solar cells have the promise to increase photovoltaic conversion efficiency beyond the Shockley-Quiesser limit and towards the thermodynamic maximum of 85%. The concept relies on the ability to extract photo-generated electrons from an absorber region faster than they can lose energy to the lattice in a process termed thermalisation. We have previously presented a realization of such a cell under limited operating conditions, in particular at low temperature, for narrowband illumination and with low total absorption of light. In this work we present the idea of a metallic absorber to address some of these limitations and show how such an absorber is a promising candidate to realize the hot carrier solar cell. In addition to a theoretical justification of the metallic hot carrier solar cell, we show device fabrication and experimental current-voltage characteristics of an initial cell, showing absorption of light in a thin-film metal region and a photo-current driven by this absorption.

Citation Download Citation

J. A. R. Dimmock, M. Kauer, P. N. Stavrinou, and N. J. Ekins-Daukes "A metallic hot carrier photovoltaic cell", Proc. SPIE 9358, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices IV, 935810 (16 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2077573

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