Abstract
Colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics combine low-cost solution processing with quantum size-effect tuning to match absorption to the solar spectrum. Rapid advances have led to certified solar power conversion efficiencies of over 7%. Nevertheless, these devices remain held back by a compromise in the choice of quantum dot film thickness, balancing on the one hand the need to maximize photon absorption, mandating a thicker film, and, on the other, the need for efficient carrier extraction, a consideration that limits film thickness. Here we report an architecture that breaks this compromise by folding the path of light propagating in the colloidal quantum dot solid. Using this method, we achieve a substantial increase in short-circuit current, ultimately leading to improved power conversion efficiency.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 9 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-11-009-21
Acknowledgements: 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. G.I.K. acknowledges NSERC support in the form of Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship. The authors acknowledge the International Cooperation of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Economy (2012T100100740). The authors would also like to acknowledge the technical assistance and scientific guidance of E. Palmiano, L.Levina, R. Wolowiec and D. Kopilovic.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.