Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.678173
Title: Novel paradigms for resonance energy transfer mediated hybrid photovoltaic devices
Author: Brossard, Mael
ISNI:       0000 0004 5370 1759
Awarding Body: University of Southampton
Current Institution: University of Southampton
Date of Award: 2015
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Abstract:
This work focuses on the utilisation of quantum dots (QDs) and resonance energy transfer to enhance the properties of existing photovoltaic technologies. Time-resolved spectroscopy is used to demonstrate that lead sulphide (PbS) QDs could be used to enhance the absorptivity of silicon solar cells. In this scheme, QDs deposited on the solar cell act as absorber, while the photogenerated excitons are transferred to the underlying silicon to contribute to the photocurrent. QD hybridization is also demonstrated in InGaP solar cells. In this case, the QDs are used to mitigate the poor utilisation of the energy absorbed in the AlInP window layer. Excitons generated in this layer are non-radiatively transferred to the QDs, which emit photons below the AlInP band-gap to generate carriers close to the depletion region of the p-n junction. The overall performance of the solar cell is found to be significantly improved after hybridization, with a large 14.6% relative and 2% absolute enhancement of the photon conversion efficiency. Finally, the integration of QDs into thin film Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells is investigated. The deposition of a non-uniform layer of QD aggregates in close proximity to the heterojunction is found to provide a 10.9% relative enhancement of the photon conversion efficiency. Enhancements of the external quantum efficiency in both the blue and near-IR ranges are attributed respectively to radiative luminescent down-shifting from the QDs and to scattering on QD aggregates. Throughout this thesis, evidence is provided that placing efficient nanocrystaline emitters near (< λ) the depletion region of photovoltaic devices can significantly increase its performance. In this context, the high energy transfer efficiency of RET at short distances makes it a very interesting coupling mechanism for hybrid solar cells integrating QDs within traditional thin-film devices.
Supervisor: Lagoudakis, Pavlos Sponsor: Not available
Qualification Name: Thesis (Ph.D.) Qualification Level: Doctoral
EThOS ID: uk.bl.ethos.678173  DOI: Not available
Keywords: QC Physics
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