SiGe quantum wells implementation in Si based nanowires for solar cells applications

Abstract

This study focuses on modelling and optimizing a new Si nanowire solar cell containing a SiGe/Si quantum well. Quantum efficiency measurements show that the proposed structure has a higher energy absorption advantage and stronger than that of a solar cell based on a standard Si p-i-n nanowire. As a result, the insertion of 14 layers of SiGe/Si quantum well improved the short circuit current density and the efficiency by a factor of about 1.24 and 1.37, respectively. The best concentration and radius values obtained are x = 0.05 and r = 0.190 µm, respectively, with a strain of less than 1%.