Open AccessEnhanced photovoltaic performance of an inclined nanowire array solar cell
Author(s) -
Yao Wu,
Xin Yan,
Xia Zhang,
Xiaomin Ren
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.0a1603
Subject(s) - nanowire , materials science , solar cell , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , photovoltaic system , solar cell efficiency , optics , physics , ecology , biology
An innovative solar cell based on inclined p-i-n nanowire array is designed and analyzed. The results show that the inclined geometry can sufficiently increase the conversion efficiency of solar cells by enhancing the absorption of light in the active region. By tuning the nanowire array density, nanowire diameter, nanowire length, as well as the proportion of intrinsic region of the inclined nanowire solar cell, a remarkable efficiency in excess of 16% can be obtained in GaAs. Similar results have been obtained in InP and Si nanowire solar cells, demonstrating the universality of the performance enhancement of inclined nanowire arrays.