Multiphoton Absorption Stimulated Metal Chalcogenide Quantum Dot Solar Cells under Ambient and Concentrated Irradiance

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2020-09, Vol.30 (39), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Hou, Bo, Kim, Byung‐Sung, Lee, Harrison Ka Hin, Cho, Yuljae, Giraud, Paul, Liu, Mengxia, Zhang, Jingchao, Davies, Matthew L., Durrant, James R., Tsoi, Wing Chung, Li, Zhe, Dimitrov, Stoichko D., Sohn, Jung Inn, Cha, SeungNam, Kim, Jong Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Augers; Chalcogenides; concentration photovoltaics; Efficiency; Energy gap; Excitons; Indoor air pollution; indoor solar cells; Irradiance; Materials science; Multiphoton absorption; multi‐photon absorption; PbS quantum dots; Photon absorption; Photons; Photovoltaic cells; Quantum dots; Quantum efficiency; Semiconductor devices; Solar cells; ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202004563

Colloidal metal chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) have excellent quantum efficiency in light–matter interactions and good device stability. However, QDs have been brought to the forefront as viable building blocks in bottom‐up assembling semiconductor devices, the development of QD solar cell (QDSC) is still confronting considerable challenges compared to other QD technologies due to their low performance under natural sunlight, as a consequence of untapped potential from their quantized density‐of‐state and inorganic natures. This report is designed to address this long‐standing challenge by accessing the feasibility of using QDSC for indoor and concentration PV (CPV) applications. This work finds that above bandgap photon energy irradiation of QD solids can generate high densities of excitons via multi‐photon absorption (MPA), and these excitons are not limited to diffuse by Auger recombination up to 1.5 × 1019 cm−3 densities. Based on these findings, a 19.5% (2000 lux indoor light) and an 11.6% efficiency (1.5 Suns) have been facilely realized from ordinary QDSCs (9.55% under 1 Sun). To further illustrate the potential of the MPA in QDSCs, 21.29% efficiency polymer lens CPVs (4.08 Suns) and viable sensor networks powered by indoor QDSCs matrix have been demonstrated. Quantum dots (QDs) solar cells (9.55% efficiency) for indoors (19.5% at 2000 lux) and concentration (11.6% at 1.5 Suns) photovoltaics are demonstrated. This work finds above bandgap photon energy irradiation of QD solids can generate high densities of excitons via multi‐photon absorption and these excitons are not limited to diffusion by Auger recombination up to 1.5 × 1019 cm−3 densities.