Solar Cells & Photovoltaics

Quantum Dots - A New Direction for Photovoltaic Solar Power

The solar cell industry is advancing at a rapid pace, spurred on by the increasing need for new and clean sources of power. The key to the adoption of solar technology is the continued reduction in cost of each kilowatt of electricity produced. Inefficiencies in conventional single junction solar cells, including silicon based cells, are a result of their inability to absorb all of the solar energy and their inability to convert all of the photon energy that is absorbed to free electrons and holes in the photon. Conversely, costs are dominated by the expense of conventional semiconductor raw material and the processes used to convert the raw materials into functional cells.

Quantum dot based solar are poised to play a leading role in this revolution. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles that exhibit size and compositionally tunable bandgaps. Therefore, different types and sizes of quantum dots, engineered to perfectly match and absorb the light of the solar spectrum, can be brought together into the same cell.

Leading researchers and institutions are investigating various ways in which quantum dots can be incorporated into semiconductor polymers or inks and deposited onto low cost substrates using high throughput roll-to-roll and printing techniques. Other researchers are investigating alternative quantum dot based solar cells approaches including, luminescent concentrator cells, quantum dot dye sensitized solar cells, multiple exciton generation, and intermediate band solar cells.

Quantum dots are cost effectively produced in bulk via chemical manufacturing techniques that coupled with their potential to increase efficiencies will ultimately lead to lower cost higher output cells.

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