Charge Transport Modulation of a Flexible Quantum Dot Solar Cell Using a Piezoelectric Effect |
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Authors: | Yuljae Cho Paul Giraud Bo Hou Young‐Woo Lee John Hong Sanghyo Lee Sangyeon Pak Juwon Lee Jae Eun Jang Stephen M Morris Jung Inn Sohn SeungNam Cha Jong Min Kim |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;2. Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea;3. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK |
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Abstract: | Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for flexible solar cells, as they have a large absorption coefficient at visible and infrared wavelengths, a band gap that can be tuned across the solar spectrum, and compatibility with solution processing. However, the performance of flexible solar cells can be degraded by the loss of charge carriers due to recombination pathways that exist at a junction interface as well as the strained interface of the semiconducting layers. The modulation of the charge carrier transport by the piezoelectric effect is an effective way of resolving and improving the inherent material and structural defects. By inserting a porous piezoelectric poly(vinylidenefluoride‐trifluoroethylene) layer so as to generate a converging electric field, it is possible to modulate the junction properties and consequently enhance the charge carrier behavior at the junction. This study shows that due to a reduction in the recombination and an improvement in the carrier extraction, a 38% increase in the current density along with a concomitant increase of 37% in the power conversion efficiency of flexible quantum dots solar cells can be achieved by modulating the junction properties using the piezoelectric effect. |
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Keywords: | charge transport modulation flexible solar cells lead sulfide quantum dots piezoelectric effect |
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