Quantum dot P-I-N structure solar cells by atomic layer deposition
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- With projections suggesting large increases in global energy demand over the coming decades, it is paramount that clean and renewable methods of producing energy are investigated. The sun is an attractive source of renewable energy, offering approximately 5,000 times the world's energy needs. However, current commercial solar technology's low efficiencies and high production costs limit them from being a competitive alternative to traditional power generation. This thesis presents the theoretical background, fabrication, characterization, and measurement of a novel p-i-n structure quantum dot (QD) solar cell fabricated entirely by atomic layer deposition (ALD). As ALD is a low temperature and scalable deposition technique, this type of architecture may be well suited for mass production. The use of different sized QDs may allow for the device to more efficiently absorb the solar spectrum and break through the theoretical efficiency limits of traditional single junction solar cells. Therefore this type of architecture has the potential to open up a new class of high efficiency and low cost solar cells which may help meet the world's future energy demands. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements confirmed the successful fabrication and functionality of the ALD QD solar cell. Furthermore, novel architectures were explored which utilized graded quantum dot layers which showed an increase of charge extraction of over 300%.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2013 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Langston, Michael C |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Mechanical Engineering. |
| Primary advisor | Prinz, F. B |
| Thesis advisor | Prinz, F. B |
| Thesis advisor | Brongersma, Mark L |
| Thesis advisor | Kenny, Thomas William |
| Advisor | Brongersma, Mark L |
| Advisor | Kenny, Thomas William |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Michael C. Langston. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2013. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2013 by Michael Colin Langston
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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