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Thermo‐Phototronic Effect Enhanced InP/ZnO Nanorod Heterojunction Solar Cells for Self‐Powered Wearable Electronics
Author(s) -
Zhang Kewei,
Yang Ya
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201703331
Subject(s) - materials science , nanorod , heterojunction , optoelectronics , photovoltaic system , solar cell , theory of solar cells , thermoelectric effect , electric field , hybrid solar cell , voltage , nanotechnology , polymer solar cell , engineering physics , electrical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , engineering
Enhancing interfacial charge transfer by the inner electric field is crucial for improving photovoltaic performance of heterojunction solar cells. Recent studies are focusing on how to utilize piezo‐phototronic effect (strain‐induced inner electric field) to modulate the interfacial charge transfer, whereas the preservation of solar cells from structure damage and performance decline under long‐term strain becomes increasingly challenging. Here, without use of strain, a thermo‐phototronic effect is presented to enhance the interfacial charge transfer in InP/ZnO nanorod heterojunction solar cells. Under a temperature gradient of 3.5 °C across the device, the output current and voltage of the solar cell under weak light illumination are enhanced by 27.3 and 76%, respectively. Moreover, the performance enhancement can be further regulated by applying different temperature gradients. This study serves as proof‐of‐principle for the thermo‐phototronic effect and pushes forward the maximum utilization of solar energy by a one‐circuit‐based photovoltaic‐thermoelectric system.