Thermionic/tunneling Carrier Collection from MQWs: How Different Mechanisms Affect Solar Cell Performance under 1 Sun and Concentration

29th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 310-312
In our previous work, we have designed and fabricated a series of multiple quantum wells (MQWs) solar cell which were different from conventional MQWs with the ultra-thin barrier ( < 4 nm) aiming at very efficient carrier extraction via carrier tunneling mechanism in MQWs region. Preliminary results indicated that utilization of such a thin barrier design, MQWs solar cell can improve carrier collection efficiency exhibiting as an enhanced current density with the minimized open circuits voltage loss. So far, investigations have been only focused on transport mechanism of carriers generated in MQWs region. Photon generated carriers from bulk material in a p-i-n MQWs cell has never been discussed in details on the transport mechanism through periodical well and barrier part, though it has very much significance as well. In this report, influence from barrier in MQWs region has been discussed on carriers generated in the bulk in term s of barrier thickness and potential barriers’ height.