Optical properties of Al<inf>x</inf>Ga<inf>1-x</inf>As/GaAs superlattice solar cells

Makoto Kuramoto; Hiroyuki Urabe; Tomohiro Nakano; Atsushi Kawaharazuka; Jiro Nishinaga; Toshiki Makimoto; Yoshiji Horikoshi

doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.03.024

Optical properties of Al<inf>x</inf>Ga<inf>1-x</inf>As/GaAs superlattice solar cells

Makoto Kuramoto, Hiroyuki Urabe, Tomohiro Nakano, Atsushi Kawaharazuka, Jiro Nishinaga, Toshiki Makimoto, Yoshiji Horikoshi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The effect of excitons in Al<inf>x</inf>Ga<inf>1-x</inf>As/GaAs superlattice solar cells has been investigated. We have shown that the superlattice active layers are effective to improve the solar cell performances because of the exciton enhanced photo-absorption. External quantum efficiency spectra show sharp and intense increase at the absorption edge due to excitonic absorption. This result indicates that excitonic photo-absorption can be stabilized at room temperature by using a superlattice structure. Optical properties of superlattice solar cells depend on the superlattice parameters because they determine the excitonic confinement effect, the tunneling effect and the sub-band structure. In this study, we compare external quantum efficiency for solar cells with different superlattice parameters to optimize the structure. The optimal barrier layer thickness is determined to be 1 nm for the Al<inf>0.5</inf>Ga<inf>0.5</inf>As/GaAs superlattice solar cell with 2-μm-thick active layer.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	333-336
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Crystal Growth
Volume	425
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.03.024
Publication status	Published - 2015 Jul 28

Keywords

A3. Molecular beam epitaxy
A3. Superlattices
B2. Semiconducting gallium arsenide
B3. Solar cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics
Materials Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

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@article{3ea33cd37aef4ee880251baa295e3c33,

title = "Optical properties of AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs superlattice solar cells",

abstract = "The effect of excitons in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs superlattice solar cells has been investigated. We have shown that the superlattice active layers are effective to improve the solar cell performances because of the exciton enhanced photo-absorption. External quantum efficiency spectra show sharp and intense increase at the absorption edge due to excitonic absorption. This result indicates that excitonic photo-absorption can be stabilized at room temperature by using a superlattice structure. Optical properties of superlattice solar cells depend on the superlattice parameters because they determine the excitonic confinement effect, the tunneling effect and the sub-band structure. In this study, we compare external quantum efficiency for solar cells with different superlattice parameters to optimize the structure. The optimal barrier layer thickness is determined to be 1 nm for the Al0.5Ga0.5As/GaAs superlattice solar cell with 2-μm-thick active layer.",

keywords = "A3. Molecular beam epitaxy, A3. Superlattices, B2. Semiconducting gallium arsenide, B3. Solar cells",

author = "Makoto Kuramoto and Hiroyuki Urabe and Tomohiro Nakano and Atsushi Kawaharazuka and Jiro Nishinaga and Toshiki Makimoto and Yoshiji Horikoshi",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.03.024",

language = "English",

volume = "425",

pages = "333--336",

journal = "Journal of Crystal Growth",

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T1 - Optical properties of AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs superlattice solar cells

AU - Kuramoto, Makoto

AU - Urabe, Hiroyuki

AU - Nakano, Tomohiro

AU - Kawaharazuka, Atsushi

AU - Nishinaga, Jiro

AU - Makimoto, Toshiki

AU - Horikoshi, Yoshiji

PY - 2015/7/28

Y1 - 2015/7/28

N2 - The effect of excitons in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs superlattice solar cells has been investigated. We have shown that the superlattice active layers are effective to improve the solar cell performances because of the exciton enhanced photo-absorption. External quantum efficiency spectra show sharp and intense increase at the absorption edge due to excitonic absorption. This result indicates that excitonic photo-absorption can be stabilized at room temperature by using a superlattice structure. Optical properties of superlattice solar cells depend on the superlattice parameters because they determine the excitonic confinement effect, the tunneling effect and the sub-band structure. In this study, we compare external quantum efficiency for solar cells with different superlattice parameters to optimize the structure. The optimal barrier layer thickness is determined to be 1 nm for the Al0.5Ga0.5As/GaAs superlattice solar cell with 2-μm-thick active layer.

AB - The effect of excitons in AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs superlattice solar cells has been investigated. We have shown that the superlattice active layers are effective to improve the solar cell performances because of the exciton enhanced photo-absorption. External quantum efficiency spectra show sharp and intense increase at the absorption edge due to excitonic absorption. This result indicates that excitonic photo-absorption can be stabilized at room temperature by using a superlattice structure. Optical properties of superlattice solar cells depend on the superlattice parameters because they determine the excitonic confinement effect, the tunneling effect and the sub-band structure. In this study, we compare external quantum efficiency for solar cells with different superlattice parameters to optimize the structure. The optimal barrier layer thickness is determined to be 1 nm for the Al0.5Ga0.5As/GaAs superlattice solar cell with 2-μm-thick active layer.

KW - A3. Molecular beam epitaxy

KW - A3. Superlattices

KW - B2. Semiconducting gallium arsenide

KW - B3. Solar cells

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EP - 336

JO - Journal of Crystal Growth

JF - Journal of Crystal Growth

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