A general model to describe the operation of intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs), incorporating a significant number of physical effects such as radiative coupling between bands, and impact ionization and Auger recombination mechanisms, is presented in equivalent circuit form. The model is applied to IBSC prototypes fabricated from InAs quantum dots structures to determine the value of the circuit elements involved. The analysis shows evidence of splitting between the conduction and intermediate band quasi-Fermi levels, one of the fundamental working hypotheses on which operation of the IBSC depends. The model is also used to discuss the limitations and potential of this type of cell.

1.
A.
Luque
and
A.
Martı́
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
78
,
5014
(
1997
).
2.
A.
Luque
,
A.
Martı́
, and
L.
Cuadra
,
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices
48
,
2118
(
2001
).
3.
S. P. Bremner, C. B. Honsberg, and R. Corkish, in Proceedings of the 28th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, (IEEE, New York, 2000), pp. 1206–1208.
4.
A.
Luque
,
A.
Martı́
, and
L.
Cuadra
,
IEEE Trans. Electron Devices
50
,
447
(
2003
).
5.
A.
Luque
and
A.
Martı́
,
Prog. Photovoltaics
9
,
73
(
2001
).
6.
L. Cuadra, A. Martı́, and A. Luque, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices (To be published).
7.
A. Luque, A. Martı́, and L. Cuadra, in Proceedings of the 16th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, edited by H. Scheer, B. McNelis, W. Palz, H. A. Ossenbrink, and P. Helm (James and James, London, 2000), pp. 59–61.
8.
H. C. Casey and M. B. Panish, Heterostructure lasers: Part A: Fundamental Principles (Academic, New York, 1978), Chap. 3.
9.
A. Luque, Solar Cells and Optics for Photovoltaic concentration, Non-imagining Optics and Static Concentration, edited by A. Luque (AdamHilguer, Bristol, 1989), p. 308, Chap. 10.
10.
M. A.
Green
,
Prog. Photovoltaics
9
,
137
(
2001
).
11.
J. C. Miñano, Physical limitations to Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Optical Confinement in Photovoltaics, edited by A. Luque and G. L. Araújo (Adam Hilguer, Bristol, 1990), pp. 50–83.
12.
A. Martı́, L. Cuadra, and A. Luque, in Proceedings of the 28th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, (IEEE, New York, 2000), pp. 940–943.
13.
A. Martı́, L. Cuadra, and A. Luque, Next Generation Photovoltaics: High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilization, Series in Optics and Optoelectronics, edited by A. Martı́ and A. Luque (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, 2003), pp. 140–162, Chap. 7.
14.
D. Bimberg, M. Grundmann, and N. N. Ledenstov, Quantum Dot Heterostructures (Wiley, London, 1999).
15.
A. J. Nozik, Next Generation Photovoltaics: High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilization, Series in Optics and Optoelectronics, edited by A. Martı́ and A. Luque (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, 2003), Chap. 9.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.