Tandem colloidal quantum dot solar cells employing a graded recombination layer

Xihua Wang, Ghada I. Koleilat, Jiang Tang, Huan Liu, Illan J. Kramer, Ratan Debnath, Lukasz Brzozowski, D. Aaron R. Barkhouse, Larissa Levina, Sjoerd Hoogland, Edward H. Sargent

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

374 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tuning of the electronic bandgap in colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) by changing their size enables the spectral response of CQD-based photodetectors and photovoltaic devices to be tailored. Multi-junction solar cells made from a combination of CQDs of differing sizes and thus bandgaps are a promising means by which to increase the energy harvested from the Sun's broad spectrum. Here, we report the first CQD tandem solar cells using the size-effect tuning of a single CQD material, PbS. We use a graded recombination layer to provide a progression of work functions from the hole-accepting electrode in the bottom cell to the electron-accepting electrode in the top cell, allowing matched electron and hole currents to meet and recombine. Our tandem solar cell has an open-circuit voltage of 1.06Â V, equal to the sum of the two constituent single-junction devices, and a solar power conversion efficiency of up to 4.2%. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)480-484
Number of pages5
JournalNature Photonics
Volume5
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 26 2011
Externally publishedYes

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