Scientists led by Professor Andrew Barron, co-founder of Natcore Technology Inc. (Red Bank, NJ, US), have developed a novel batch manufactured solar cell by having applied quantum dots of germanium on a conventional silicon wafer n-type.
The quantum dots (quantum dots) were coated with silicon dioxide, doped to the p-type and then by liquid coating (LPD, liquid phase deposition) on a standard Si wafers deposited. The LPD process was developed at Rice University, and Natcore has an exclusive license for it.
“Simply put, we have our proprietary method used to dope silica-coated quantum dots of germanium and applied as a layer on a wafer normal. Then we have the coated wafers provided with contacts to turn it into a solar cell and exposed to light it. Lo and behold, you power generated, “says co-founder and chief technology officer of Natcore, Dr. Dennis Flood.
solar cells are tailored to specific spectrum of light
quantum dot solar cells could completely change the PV, since their efficiencies were much higher than all the products currently available, the company says.
The advantage is that the size of the quantum dots precisely controlled and the solar cell thus “tuned” and can be tailored to a specific spectrum of light. The remaining light meet on the underlying layer, either the tuned for this spectrum or a conventional Si solar cell.
With tandem solar cells or more quantum-doped layers, a larger part of the light spectrum can be converted to solar power. Conventional solar cells, however, easy to use, only a portion of the spectrum.
Possible precursor for flexible, high-efficiency tandem solar cell
“To our knowledge, not yet an other introduce a method like ours silicon or germanium dots in the layers. There seems to be ideal for mass production, “says Flood.
tandem solar cells in space is a common technology. What their use on earth prevented up until now was the need for exotic semiconductor materials for the top layers.
The solar cell of Dr. Barron’s lab uses the resource germanium, which is relatively cheap and available in large quantities, as “p-type material.”
The stack solar cell with p-quantum dots grown on an n-type silicon wafers is an important step towards the development of a solar cell Elle in the quantum dots, both for the preparation of p-type and the n-type materials are used. Once this is accomplished, the door for ultra-high-efficiency solar cell stack is opened, emphasize the scientists.
“This is a really exciting time for Natcore and our partners,” says Chuck Provini, President and CEO. “We are in our solar program only one step away from the ultimate goal – n quantum dots -. Away”
02/18/2015 | Source: Natcore Technology | solarserver.de © Heindl Server GmbH
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