Solar Cells Using Quantum Funnels

Kramer, Illan J.; Levina, Larissa; Debnath, Ratan; Zhitomirsky, David; Sargent, Edward H.

Type

Article

Authors

Kramer, Illan J.

Levina, Larissa
Debnath, Ratan
Zhitomirsky, David
Sargent, Edward H.

KAUST Grant Number

KUS-11-009-21

Date

2011-09-14

Permanent link to this record

http://hdl.handle.net/10754/599654

Metadata

Show full item record

Abstract

Colloidal quantum dots offer broad tuning of semiconductor bandstructure via the quantum size effect. Devices involving a sequence of layers comprised of quantum dots selected to have different diameters, and therefore bandgaps, offer the possibility of funneling energy toward an acceptor. Here we report a quantum funnel that efficiently conveys photoelectrons from their point of generation toward an intended electron acceptor. Using this concept we build a solar cell that benefits from enhanced fill factor as a result of this quantum funnel. This concept addresses limitations on transport in soft condensed matter systems and leverages their advantages in large-area optoelectronic devices and systems. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

Citation

Kramer IJ, Levina L, Debnath R, Zhitomirsky D, Sargent EH (2011) Solar Cells Using Quantum Funnels. Nano Lett 11: 3701–3706. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl201682h.

Sponsors

This publication is based on work in part supported by Award No. KUS-11-009-21, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). We thank Angstrom Engineering and Innovative Technologies for useful discussions regarding material deposition methods and control of glovebox environment, respectively. The EM research described in this paper was performed at the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, which is supported by NSERC and other government agencies. I.J.K., R.D. and D.Z. acknowledge the financial support through the Queen Elizabeth II/Ricoh Canada Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, the MITACS Elevate Strategic Fellowship, and the NSERC CGS M Scholarship, respectively. The authors would also like to acknowledge the technical assistance and scientific guidance of L. Brzozowski, E. Palmiano, R Wolowiec, D. Kopilovic, and S. Hoogland.