International Journal of Numerical Modelling: Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields

Volume 30, Issue 2 e2176

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Numerical simulation and a parametric study of inorganic nanowire solar cells

Nouran M. Ali,

Nouran M. Ali

Engineering Mathematics and Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem,

Corresponding Author

Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem

[email protected]

Department of Engineering Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Engineering, Fayoum University, Al Fayoum, Egypt

Correspondence to: Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem, Engineering Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Fayoum University, Egypt.

E-mail: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Nageh K. Allam,

Nageh K. Allam

Energy Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, 11835 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

Nadia H. Rafat,

Nadia H. Rafat

Engineering Mathematics and Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

Nouran M. Ali,

Nouran M. Ali

Engineering Mathematics and Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem,

Corresponding Author

Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem

[email protected]

Department of Engineering Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Engineering, Fayoum University, Al Fayoum, Egypt

Correspondence to: Ashraf M. Abdel Haleem, Engineering Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Fayoum University, Egypt.

E-mail: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Nageh K. Allam,

Nageh K. Allam

Energy Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, 11835 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

Nadia H. Rafat,

Nadia H. Rafat

Engineering Mathematics and Physics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 02 June 2016

https://doi.org/10.1002/jnm.2176

Citations: 4

Share a link

Email
Wechat
Bluesky

Summary

Radial junction nanorods (nanowires) are mainly used to improve the carrier collection efficiency and accordingly the conversion efficiency of solar cells. In this work, a numerical simulator has been produced for a cylindrical p–n junction solar cell based on a finite difference discretization of semiconductor, Poisson's, drift–diffusion transport and charge continuity equations. It can be applied to estimate the photogenerated current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor and conversion efficiency of inorganic radial p–n and p–i–n junction nanowires. Additionally, the simulator can produce the spatial distribution of the carriers' densities, electric field and energy bands of the nanowires. The simulator results show a good matching with previously published ones. Finally, the simulator is used in a parametric study to optimize the geometry and the junction depth of cylindrical silicon solar cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

References

1Hsu-Shen W et al. Inverted heterojunction solar cells incorporating fullerene/polythiophene composite core/shell nanorod arrays. Nanotechnology 2010; 21(14):145203.
Web of Science® Google Scholar
2Wang Y et al. Towards the Optimization of Organic Solar Cells via Controlled Morphologies. Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Integrated Circuits 2009; 147–150.
Google Scholar
3Colombo C et al. Gallium arsenide p-i-n radial structures for photovoltaic applications. Applied Physics Letters 2009; 94(173108): 1–3.
Google Scholar
4Wang S et al. Axially connected nanowire core-shell p-n junctions: a composite structure for high-efficiency solar cells. Nanoscale Research Letters 2015; 10(22):( 7pp).
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5Lee H-C et al. Efficiently Harvesting Sun Light for Silicon Solar Cells through Advanced Optical Couplers and A Radial p-n Junction Structure. Energies 2010; 3: 784–802.
10.3390/en3040784
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
6Yoo J et al. Epitaxial growth of radial Si p-i-n junctions for photovoltaic applications. Applied Physics Letters 2013; 102: 1–5.
10.1063/1.4794541
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
7Dong G, Liu F, Zang H, Liu J, Zhu M. Realization of radial p-n junction silicon nanowire solar cell based on low-temperature and shallow phosphorus doping. Nanoscale Research Letters 2013; 8(1): 544.
10.1186/1556-276X-8-544
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
8Shin S-M et al. A novel wrap-around metal contact optimized for radial p–n junction Si wire solar cells. Energy & Environmental Science 2013; 6: 1756–1760
10.1039/c3ee24494f
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
9Shalev G et al. Enhanced photovoltaics inspired by the fovea centralis. Scientific Reports 2015; 5(8570): 1−7.
Google Scholar
10Kim, S.-K., et al., Doubling absorption in nanowire solar cells with dielectric shell optical antennas. Nano Letters, 2015; 15: 753−758.
10.1021/nl504462e
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
11Pei Z et al. Numerical simulation on the photovoltaic behavior of an amorphous-silicon nanowire-array solar cell. IEEE Electron Device Letters 2009; 30(12): 1305–1307.
10.1109/LED.2009.2033318
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
12Abdellatif S, Kirah K. Numerical modeling and simulation for a radial p-i-n nanowire photovoltaic device. Energy Procedia 2013; 36: 488–491.
10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.055
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
13Zanuccolia M et al. Numerical simulation of vertical silicon nanowires based heterojunction solar cells. Energy Procedia 2013; 38: 216–222.
10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.270
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
14Zhai X et al. Limiting efficiency calculation of silicon single-nanowire solar cells with considering Auger recombination. Applied Physics Letters 2015; 106(063904): 1–5.
Google Scholar
15Engl WL, Dirks HK, Meinerzhagen B. Device modeling. Proceedings of the IEEE 1983; 71: 10–33.
10.1109/PROC.1983.12524
Web of Science® Google Scholar
16Shockley W, Read WT. Statistics of the recombinations of holes and electrons. Physical Review 1952; 87: 835–842.
10.1103/PhysRev.87.835
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
17Deinega A, John S. Finite difference discretization of semiconductor drift-diffusion equations for nanowire solar cells. Computer Physics Communications 2012; 183: 2128–2135.
10.1016/j.cpc.2012.05.016
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
18Selberherr S. Analysis and simulation of semiconductor devices. Springer-Verlag/Wien: New York, 1984.
10.1007/978-3-7091-8752-4
Google Scholar
19 Drift-Diffusion Model:Solution Details. Dragica Vasileska [cited; Available from: http://nanohub.org/resources/1565/download/ddmodel_solution_details_word.pdf.
Google Scholar
20Fonash, S.J., et al., A MANUAL FOR AMPS-1D, in The Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization, Electronic Materials and Processing Research Laboratory: The Pennsylvania State University.
Google Scholar
21Karniadakis, G. Thomas Algorithm for Tridiagonal Systems. 2000 [cited; Available from: http://www.cfm.brown.edu/people/gk/chap6/node13.html.
Google Scholar
22Horn M, Schwerdtfeger CF, Meagher EP. Refinement of the structure of anatase at several temperatures. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 1972; 136: 273–281.
10.1524/zkri.1972.136.3-4.273
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
23Clark SJ et al. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 2005; 220: 567–570.
10.1524/zkri.220.5.567.65075
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
24Becke AD. A new mixing of Hartree-Fock and local density-functional theories. Journal of Chemical Physics 1993; 98(2): 1372–1377.
10.1063/1.464304
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
25Ali NM et al. Analytical modeling of the radial pn junction nanowire solar cells. Journal of Applied Physics 2014; 116(024308): 1–7.
Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume30, Issue2

March/April 2017

e2176

Numerical simulation and a parametric study of inorganic nanowire solar cells

Summary

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Numerical simulation and a parametric study of inorganic nanowire solar cells

Summary

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information