GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics (PVs) based on nanostructured III/V semiconductors can potentially reduce the material usage and increase the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, which are anticipated to make a significant impact on the next-generation solar cells. In particular, GaAs nanowire (NW) is one of t...
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Crystals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/8/9/347 |
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| author | Ying Wang Xinyuan Zhou Zaixing Yang Fengyun Wang Ning Han Yunfa Chen Johnny C. Ho |
| author_facet | Ying Wang Xinyuan Zhou Zaixing Yang Fengyun Wang Ning Han Yunfa Chen Johnny C. Ho |
| author_sort | Ying Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photovoltaics (PVs) based on nanostructured III/V semiconductors can potentially reduce the material usage and increase the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, which are anticipated to make a significant impact on the next-generation solar cells. In particular, GaAs nanowire (NW) is one of the most promising III/V nanomaterials for PVs due to its ideal bandgap and excellent light absorption efficiency. In order to achieve large-scale practical PV applications, further controllability in the NW growth and device fabrication is still needed for the efficiency improvement. This article reviews the recent development in GaAs NW-based PVs with an emphasis on cost-effectively synthesis of GaAs NWs, device design and corresponding performance measurement. We first discuss the available manipulated growth methods of GaAs NWs, such as the catalytic vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and vapor-solid-solid (VSS) epitaxial growth, followed by the catalyst-controlled engineering process, and typical crystal structure and orientation of resulted NWs. The structure-property relationships are also discussed for achieving the optimal PV performance. At the same time, important device issues are as well summarized, including the light absorption, tunnel junctions and contact configuration. Towards the end, we survey the reported performance data and make some remarks on the challenges for current nanostructured PVs. These results not only lay the ground to considerably achieve the higher efficiencies in GaAs NW-based PVs but also open up great opportunities for the future low-cost smart solar energy harvesting devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:16:57Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:16:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
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| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f8bb92dbc1f4a37ae3a09089cbb8ffc2022-12-22T01:56:27ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522018-08-018934710.3390/cryst8090347cryst8090347GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance PhotovoltaicsYing Wang0Xinyuan Zhou1Zaixing Yang2Fengyun Wang3Ning Han4Yunfa Chen5Johnny C. Ho6State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaCenter for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, ChinaCenter of Nanoelectronics and School of Microelectronics, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, ChinaCollege of Physics and Cultivation Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, ChinaPhotovoltaics (PVs) based on nanostructured III/V semiconductors can potentially reduce the material usage and increase the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, which are anticipated to make a significant impact on the next-generation solar cells. In particular, GaAs nanowire (NW) is one of the most promising III/V nanomaterials for PVs due to its ideal bandgap and excellent light absorption efficiency. In order to achieve large-scale practical PV applications, further controllability in the NW growth and device fabrication is still needed for the efficiency improvement. This article reviews the recent development in GaAs NW-based PVs with an emphasis on cost-effectively synthesis of GaAs NWs, device design and corresponding performance measurement. We first discuss the available manipulated growth methods of GaAs NWs, such as the catalytic vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and vapor-solid-solid (VSS) epitaxial growth, followed by the catalyst-controlled engineering process, and typical crystal structure and orientation of resulted NWs. The structure-property relationships are also discussed for achieving the optimal PV performance. At the same time, important device issues are as well summarized, including the light absorption, tunnel junctions and contact configuration. Towards the end, we survey the reported performance data and make some remarks on the challenges for current nanostructured PVs. These results not only lay the ground to considerably achieve the higher efficiencies in GaAs NW-based PVs but also open up great opportunities for the future low-cost smart solar energy harvesting devices.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/8/9/347GaAs nanowirescatalyst epitaxyphotovoltaicsoptical absorptionSchottky barrier |
| spellingShingle | Ying Wang Xinyuan Zhou Zaixing Yang Fengyun Wang Ning Han Yunfa Chen Johnny C. Ho GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics Crystals GaAs nanowires catalyst epitaxy photovoltaics optical absorption Schottky barrier |
| title | GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics |
| title_full | GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics |
| title_fullStr | GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics |
| title_full_unstemmed | GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics |
| title_short | GaAs Nanowires Grown by Catalyst Epitaxy for High Performance Photovoltaics |
| title_sort | gaas nanowires grown by catalyst epitaxy for high performance photovoltaics |
| topic | GaAs nanowires catalyst epitaxy photovoltaics optical absorption Schottky barrier |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/8/9/347 |
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