Hot-Carrier Solar Cells With Quantum Well and Dot Energy Selective Contacts

Abstract

In this paper, we simulate hot-carrier solar cells (HCSCs) with quantum well and dot energy selective contacts (ESCs) and derive the power outputs and efficiencies of HCSCs, including three energy loss mechanisms. The effects of the shape of the electron energy spectrum on the electric current densities and heat flux densities of HCSCs are discussed based on the ballistic transport theory. Performance characteristics pertaining to the extraction energy level and the transmission energy width are revealed. The key parameters of HCSCs are optimally designed. The results obtained show that thermalization losses due to non-ideal ESCs are one of the main energy dissipation mechanisms decreasing the efficiency of HCSCs and the performance of an HCSC can be more significantly improved by using quantum dot ESCs than quantum well ESCs.