Simulation of nanostructure-based and ultra-thin film solar cell devices beyond the classical picture

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation framework for nano-structured and ultra-thin film solar cells, capturing non-local effects and nanoscale potential variations to better understand photon absorption and carrier transport beyond classical models.

Contribution

It introduces a versatile simulation approach that accounts for arbitrary potential variations and transport regimes, revealing nanoscale effects inaccessible to traditional macroscopic models.

Findings

Nanoscale potential variations significantly affect local photogeneration rates.

Non-local photon absorption impacts carrier transport in ultra-thin solar cells.

Structure and doping influence the photocarrier extraction efficiency.

Abstract

In this paper, an optoelectronic device simulation framework valid for arbitrary spatial variation of electronic potentials and optical modes, and for transport regimes ranging from ballistic to diffusive, is used to study non-local photon absorption, photocurrent generation and carrier extraction in ultra-thin film and nanostructure-based solar cell devices at the radiative limit. Among the effects that are revealed by the microscopic approach and which are inaccessible to macroscopic models is the impact of structure, doping or bias induced nanoscale potential variations on the local photogeneration rate and the photocarrier transport regime.