Michael N. Miller

Nanostructured solar cell

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the nanostructured solar cells that play an important role in enhancing the efficiency of future generations of solar cells, whether they are III–V, II–VI, or hybrid organic–inorganic cells. There is a great deal of potential in multiple approaches for these nanostructures. Nanostructures can also be composed of arrays of individual nanomaterials. Semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) can be combined in a three-dimensional array, often through the use of selfordering. The discrete-like energy levels of the QDs will combine and form bands of allowed energy states in an analogous way in which atomic energy levels combine to produce the energy bands in conventional solids. The role of a nanomaterial or nanostructure in a given photovoltaic solar cell design can vary dramatically. In some cases, the goal may be simply to provide the means to disassociate excitons throughout a bulk material as in the use of colloidal QDs in organic or polymeric solar cells.