Eunsongyi Lee

Incident light adjustable solar cell by periodic nanolens architecture.

Could nanostructures act as lenses to focus incident light for efficient utilization of photovoltaics? Is it possible, in order to avoid serious recombination loss, to realize periodic nanostructures in solar cells without direct etching in a light absorbing semiconductor? Here we propose and demonstrate a promising architecture to shape nanolenses on a planar semiconductor. Optically transparent and electrically conductive nanolenses simultaneously provide the optical benefit of modulating the incident light and the electrical advantage of supporting carrier transportation. A transparent indium-tin-oxide (ITO) nanolens was designed to focus the incident light-spectrum in focal lengths overlapping to a strong electric field region for high carrier collection efficiency. The ITO nanolens effectively broadens near-zero reflection and provides high tolerance to the incident light angles. We present a record high light-conversion efficiency of 16.0% for a periodic nanostructured Si solar cell.

Resistance state-dependent barrier inhomogeneity and transport mechanisms in resistive-switching Pt/SrTiO3 junctions

We investigated the current–voltage (I−V) and photocurrent characteristics of Pt/Nb-doped SrTiO3 (001) single-crystal junctions that exhibit resistive-switching behaviors. The temperature-dependent I−V data and the photocurrent spectra showed that the barrier height fluctuation depended on the resistance state but the mean barrier height was nearly constant regardless of the junctions’ resistance state. In addition, local barrier height variations allowed transitions from thermionic to tunneling transport for the low-resistance state.

Effect of the short collection length in silicon microscale wire solar cells

Electrical and optical properties of silicon microscale wire (SiMW) solar cells were investigated. Diverse designs were applied for SiMW geometries as light absorbers. Finite-difference time-domain simulation shows a focused optical field in the wires inducing an optical absorption enhancement in SiMW solar cells. SiMW solar cells provided remarkably higher Voc values (0.597-0.61 V) than that of the planar solar cell (0.587 V). As for the electrical aspects, the position of the space charge region in a SiMW directly affects the carrier collection efficiency according to the SiMW diameter and significantly modulates the photogenerated-currents and voltages in solar cells.

Effective Light Management of Three-Dimensionally Patterned Transparent Conductive Oxide Layers

For effective light harvesting, a design weighting should be implemented in a front geometry, in which the incident light transmits from a surface into a light-active layer. We designed a three-dimensionally patterned transparent conductor layer for effective light management. A transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film was formed as three-dimensional structures. This efficiently drives the incident light at the front surface into a Si absorber to yield a reduction in reflection and an enhancement of current. This indicates that an optimum architecture for a front TCO surface will provide an effective way for light management in solar cells.

Surface-concentrated light and efficient carrier collection in microhole-patterned Si solar cells

We investigate photovoltaic characteristics of crystalline Si solar cells with microhole-patterned surface. We compare patterned samples with different hole-widths and periods with a planar counterpart. From the finite-difference time-domain simulation, the patterned and planar samples are expected to have similar short circuit current density, J(sc) (difference: 1.2%). In contrast, the difference in the measured J(sc) is as large as 12.6%. The simulated optical field patterns reveal that the sample with more significantly concentrated light near the surface has higher quantum efficiency due to more efficient carrier collection. We report the highest efficiency of 15.6% among the hole-patterned solar cells.

Surface-plasmon-enhanced visible-light emission of ZnO/Ag grating structures.

We investigated the optical properties of ZnO/Ag grating structures fabricated by sputtering and nanoimprint lithography. The grating structures exhibited multiple peak features in broad visible-range photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The PL intensity of the grating was larger than that of a planar thin film by up to two orders of magnitude. The surface plasmon (SP) dispersion relation suggested excitation of SPs with various energies of the grating, explaining the broad PL emission. The spectral dependence of the PL intensity was also well supported by the experimental reflectance spectra and the simulated electric field distribution at the ZnO/Ag interface.

Beneficial roles of Al back reflectors in optical absorption of Si nanowire array solar cells

We investigate the influence of Al back reflectors on the optical absorption spectra of Si nanowire (NW) arrays by using the finite-difference time-domain simulation method. A flat Al layer enhances the absorption in the NW array due to not only the reflection-induced optical path length enlargement but also reflection of light between NWs and localized surface plasmon induced optical field confinement. An Al underlayer with a grating structure allows grating-coupled surface plasmon polariton excitation and raise the optical absorption in the Si NWs. Interplay among all these factors on the optical absorption and expected solar cell performance of the NW arrays is discussed.

External validation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models of microemulsion and long-chain triglyceride emulsion propofol in beagle dogs.

This study aimed at assessing the predictive performance of a target-controlled infusion (TCI) system, which incorporates canine PK-PD models for microemulsion and long-chain triglyceride emulsion (LCT) propofol and at investigating time independency of propofol effect on the observed electroencephalographic approximate entropy (ApEn) in TCI. Using a crossover design with a 7-day washout period, 28 healthy beagle dogs were randomized to receive TCI of both formulations in a stepwise or constant manner. Plasma propofol concentrations and ApEn were measured at preset intervals. Pooled biases, inaccuracies, divergences, and wobbles in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic predictions were 2.1% (95% CI: -0.8 to 4.9), 18.1% (15.6-20.5), 1.9%/h, 7.3% (5.4-9.3), and -0.5% (-2.6 to 1.6), 8.7% (7.3-10.1), 2.5%/h, 6.0% (4.1-7.2) for microemulsion propofol, and -9.3% (-11.6 to -6.9), 20.1% (18.2-22.0), 5.1%/h, 7.6% (6.1-9.1) and 5.6% (4.1-7.1), 8.0% (6.9-9.3), 4.7%/h, 4.1% (3.1-5.1) for LCT propofol. Observed ApEn values over time were statistically not different across all time points in a TCI with constant manner. Canine PK-PD model of microemulsion propofol showed good predictive performances. Propofol effect (ApEn) was time independent as long as time is allowed for equilibration.

Influence of wetting state on optical reflectance spectra of Si nanopillar arrays

Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations showed that the reflectance spectra of crystalline Si nanopillar (NP) arrays with diameters of 40, 70, 100, and 130 nm differed depending on wetting state. The observed reflectance dips of the 40-nm-diameter NP array were in good agreement with those estimated from destructive interference conditions at the top and bottom of the NPs: the NP arrays were treated as a homogeneous medium with an effective permittivity according to the effective medium approximation model. In contrast, the dip positions of the FDTD-simulated spectra for 70-, 100-, and 130-nm-diameter NP arrays deviated from the results of interference calculations, particularly for short wavelengths. This suggested that Mie resonances in individual NPs significantly increased the absorption cross-section at the resonant wavelengths, which was sensitive to the refractive index of the surrounding medium (i.e., the wetting state). Optical reflectance measurements provide an easy and efficient means...

Scanning probe lithography for fabrication of Ti metal nanodot arrays.

We report fabrication of Ti metal nanodot arrays by scanning probe microscopic indentation. A thin poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) layer was spin-coated on Si substrates with thickness of 70nm. Nanometer-size pore arrays were formed by indenting the PMMA layer using a cantilever of a scanning probe microscope. Protuberances with irregular boundaries appeared during the indentation process. Control of approach and pulling-out speed during indentation was able to dispose of the protrusions. Ti metal films were deposited on the patterned PMMA layers by a radio-frequency sputtering method and subsequently lifted off to obtain metal nanodot arrays. The fabricated metal nanodot arrays have 200nm of diameter and 500nm of interdistance, which corresponds to a density of 4x10(8)/cm(2). Scanning probe-based measurement of current-voltage (I-V) behaviors for a single Ti metal nanodot showed asymmetric characteristics. Applying external bias is likely to induce oxidation of Ti metal, since the conductance decreased and volume change of the dots was observed. I-V behaviors of Ti metal nanodots by conventional e-beam lithography were also characterized for comparison.