Quantum dot solar cell

Spin-cast quantum dot solar cell built by the Sargent Group at the University of Toronto. The metal disks on the front surface are the electrical connections to the layers below.

A quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) is a solar cell design that uses quantum dots as the captivating photovoltaic material. It attempts to replace bulk materials such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) or cadmium telluride (CdTe). Quantum dots have bandgaps that are adjustable across a wide range of energy levels by changing their size. In bulk materials, the bandgap is fixed by the choice of material(s).[1] This property makes quantum dots attractive for multi-junction solar cells, where a variety of materials are used to improve efficiency by harvesting multiple portions of the solar spectrum.

As of 2022, efficiency exceeds 18.1%.[2] Quantum dot solar cells have the potential to increase the maximum attainable thermodynamic conversion efficiency of solar photon conversion up to about 66% by utilizing hot photogenerated carriers to produce higher photovoltages or higher photocurrents.[3]

  1. ^ Shishodia, Shubham; Chouchene, Bilel; Gries, Thomas; Schneider, Raphaël (2023-10-31). "Selected I-III-VI2 Semiconductors: Synthesis, Properties and Applications in Photovoltaic Cells". Nanomaterials. 13 (21): 2889. doi:10.3390/nano13212889. ISSN 2079-4991. PMC 10648425. PMID 37947733.
  2. ^ "Best Research Cell Efficiency Chart". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ Nozik, A. J (2002-04-01). "Quantum dot solar cells". Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures. 14 (1): 115–120. Bibcode:2002PhyE...14..115N. doi:10.1016/S1386-9477(02)00374-0. ISSN 1386-9477.