Researchers Ankul Prajapati and Bade M H from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore have been exploring ways to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic cells (PVc), a crucial technology for renewable energy generation. Their recent work focuses on quantum dot-based solar cells (QDSCs) and was published in the journal Nanomaterials.
Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity and are a significant source of renewable energy. However, improving their efficiency and reducing costs remain ongoing challenges. Traditional PVc, based on p-n type homojunction semiconductors, often suffer from poor performance. To address this, Prajapati and H have investigated the use of colloidal quantum dots, which offer advantages such as a wide range of light absorption and efficient charge separation and transport.
The researchers introduced a complete cell architecture for QDSCs using a heterostructure multijunction approach. They analyzed successive ionic layer adsorption at different heterogeneous interfaces, focusing on enhancing the electrical and optical properties of the QDSCs through various materials and structural approaches. Their strategy involved band alignment engineering for QDSC interfaces, which significantly improved efficiency.
In the context of intermediate band solar cells (IBSC), the researchers investigated the optical properties of quantum dots and the strain effects on multilayer PVc. They summarized the strain effects on quantum dot growth and local energy band bending of the conduction band (CB) and valence band (VB). This research highlights the potential of quantum dots to enhance the performance of photovoltaic cells, contributing to more efficient and economical solar energy solutions.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector include the development of more efficient solar panels that can convert a broader spectrum of sunlight into electricity. This could lead to increased energy output from solar farms and rooftop installations, making solar power more competitive with traditional energy sources. Additionally, the improved efficiency could reduce the cost of solar energy, accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources.
Source: Prajapati, A.; H, B.M. Next Generation Quantum Dots Based Multijunction Photovoltaics. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 123.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.