QUANTUM DOT

SOLAR CELL
NT-515

ADITI JAIN
192105119
 QUANTUM DOT

 Semiconducting particles that have been

reduced below the size of the Exciton Bohr
radius.
 Range from 2-10 nanometres (10-50 atoms) in
diameter.
 Energy levels are tunable by changing their
size, which in turn defines the bandgap.
 0 degrees of freedom.
 The ability to tune the bandgap makes quantum
dots desirable for solar cells.
CONTINUED...

 sometimes referred to as artificial atoms, emphasizing their

singularity, having bound, discrete electronic states, like
naturally occurring atoms or molecules
 Their optoelectronic properties change as a function of both
size and shape. 
 Larger QDs of 5–6 nm diameter emit longer wavelengths,
with colors such as orange or red.
 Smaller QDs 2–3 nm emit shorter wavelengths, yielding
colors like blue and green.
 QUANTUM DOT FORMATION
SELF ASSEMBLY(Stranski-Krastanov )

 One of the bottom-up methods.

 Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and
Metal Organic Chemical Vapor
Deposition (MOCVD) are used.
 Mismatched lattice constants cause
surface tension which results in Qdot
formation with surprisingly uniform
characteristics.

GaAs  5.6533 Å InAs  6.0584 Å

 HOW QUANTUM DOT WORKS

 When the quantum dots are

illuminated by UV light, an
electron in the quantum dot can be
excited to a state of higher energy.
 In the case of

a semiconducting quantum dot,
this process corresponds to the
transition of an electron from
the valence band to
the conductance band.
 The color of that light depends on

the energy difference between

the conductance band and
the valence band.
 Small nanocrystals absorb shorter wavelengths or bluer light
 Larger nanocrystals absorb longer wavelengths or redder light
SOLAR CELL

 Photovoltaic cell is a device that

converts solar energy into
electricity by the photovoltaic
effect.
 efficiency of a traditional cell is
33%.
 WORKING

 When a photon is absorbed, the energy of the

photon is transferred to an electron in the
crystal lattice
 This generates an electron-hole pair
 The flow of electrons is a DC current (I) and
electric field of the cell is a voltage (V)
 Here power (P) is given by:
P = VI
 An inverter is used to convert DC into AC
NEED OF QUANTUM DOT IN SOLAR CELL

 Reduction in cost:
 of each kilowatt of electricity produced

 of raw materials

 of processes used to convert the raw materials into

functional cells
 Inefficiencies in conventional single junction solar cells
 inability to absorb all of the solar energy

 inability to convert all of the photon energy that is absorbed

to free electrons and holes

 Traditional semiconductor materials are crystalline or rigid

 Quantum dot dye sensitized solar cells

 Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are

used in these cells
 Its band gap is too wide to absorb
much sunlight

 Working:
 TiO2 particles are coated with a
metal organic ruthenium-based
dye, the dye absorbs light,
becomes oxidized (loses
electrons), and injects these
electrons into the TiO2
continued…

 These diffuse to the electrode while

the holes pass to the LiI electrolyte

 The electrons pass through an

external load, doing work, then flow
to the counter electrode

 Here the electrons are carried by

iodine ions to regenerate the dye
through reduction (gain of
electrons)
 MULTIPLE EXCITON GENERATION
CELLS

 Multiple excitons per absorbed photon happens when the energy of

the photon absorbed is far greater than the semiconductor band gap
 In bulk semiconductors the excess energy simply dissipates away as
heat
 In quantum dots, the rate of energy dissipation is significantly
reduced
continued…

 The charge carriers are confined within a minute volume, thereby

increasing their interactions and enhancing the probability for
multiple excitons to form.

 Quantum yield of 300 percent for 2.9nm diameter PbSe (lead

selenide) quantum dots when the energy of the photon absorbed is
four times that of the band gap.
MULTI JUNCTION SOLAR CELL
 Traditionally, multi-junction solar cells are made with a
collection of multiple semiconductor materials.
  multiple materials enables the absorbance of a broader range
of wavelengths
 which increases the cell's electrical conversion efficiency.
 multiple materials makes multi-junction solar cells too
expensive 
 Because the band gap of quantum dots can be tuned by
adjusting the particle radius
 multi-junction cells can be manufactured by incorporating
quantum dot semiconductors of different sizes
 same material lowers manufacturing costs
THANK
YOU