Comparison of optical properties of Si and ZnO/CdTe core/shell nanowire arrays

► Systematic short-circuit current density for Si NW arrays calculated. ► Best structural morphology found (315nm diameter, 350nm period and 1μm height). ► ZnO/CdTe core–shell NW arrays more efficiently absorb light than Si NW arrays. The systematic computations of the short-circuit current density...

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Published in:Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 2013-05, Vol.178 (9), p.665-669
Main Authors: Michallon, Jérôme, Zanuccoli, Mauro, Kaminski-Cachopo, Anne, Consonni, Vincent, Morand, Alain, Bucci, Davide, Emieux, Fabrice, Szambolics, Helga, Perraud, Simon, Semenikhin, Igor
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Arrays
Cadmium tellurides
Core/shell
Current density
Density
Nanostructure
Nanowire array
Nanowires
RCWA
Shells
Short-circuit current
Silicon
Solar cells
Zinc oxide
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Summary:► Systematic short-circuit current density for Si NW arrays calculated. ► Best structural morphology found (315nm diameter, 350nm period and 1μm height). ► ZnO/CdTe core–shell NW arrays more efficiently absorb light than Si NW arrays. The systematic computations of the short-circuit current density have been performed for Si and ZnO/CdTe core shell nanowire arrays of 1μm height in order to optimize the structural morphology in terms of nanowire diameter and period. It is found that the best structural configuration for Si leading to the ideal short-circuit current density of 19.6mA/cm2 is achieved for a nanowire diameter and period of 315nm and 350nm, respectively. In case of ZnO/CdTe, the ideal short circuit current density is of 24.0mA/cm2, the nanowire diameter and period is of 210nm and 350nm, respectively. It is shown that the optimal configuration is more compact in the case of Si nanowire arrays than in the case of ZnO/CdTe nanowire arrays. Since Si has a smaller absorption coefficient than CdTe, a larger amount of material is needed and thus more compact nanowire arrays are required. It is also revealed that core–shell nanowire arrays made of ZnO/CdTe more efficiently absorb light than that of Si, making this device a good candidate for the next generation of nanostructured solar cells.
ISSN:0921-5107
1873-4944
DOI:10.1016/j.mseb.2012.10.037