Peak External Photocurrent Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 100% via MEG in a Quantum Dot Solar Cell

Octavi E. Semonin; Joseph M. Luther; Sukgeun Choi; Hsiang Yu Chen; Jianbo Gao; Arthur J. Nozik; Matthew C. Beard

doi:10.1126/science.1209845

Peak External Photocurrent Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 100% via MEG in a Quantum Dot Solar Cell

Octavi E. Semonin, Joseph M. Luther, Sukgeun Choi, Hsiang Yu Chen, Jianbo Gao, Arthur J. Nozik, Matthew C. Beard

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

1495 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is a process that can occur in semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots (QDs), whereby absorption of a photon bearing at least twice the bandgap energy produces two or more electron-hole pairs. Here, we report on photocurrent enhancement arising from MEG in lead selenide (PbSe) QD-based solar cells, as manifested by an external quantum efficiency (the spectrally resolved ratio of collected charge carriers to incident photons) that peaked at 114 ± 1% in the best device measured. The associated internal quantum efficiency (corrected for reflection and absorption losses) was 130%. We compare our results with transient absorption measurements of MEG in isolated PbSe QDs and find reasonable agreement. Our findings demonstrate that MEG charge carriers can be collected in suitably designed QD solar cells, providing ample incentive to better understand MEG within isolated and coupled QDs as a research path to enhancing the efficiency of solar light harvesting technologies.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	1530-1533
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	334
Issue number	6062
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1209845 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1209845
State	Published - 2011

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5900-52817

Keywords

MEG
multiple exciton generation
nanocrystals
quantum dot solar cell
semiconductor

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title = "Peak External Photocurrent Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 100% via MEG in a Quantum Dot Solar Cell",

abstract = "Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is a process that can occur in semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots (QDs), whereby absorption of a photon bearing at least twice the bandgap energy produces two or more electron-hole pairs. Here, we report on photocurrent enhancement arising from MEG in lead selenide (PbSe) QD-based solar cells, as manifested by an external quantum efficiency (the spectrally resolved ratio of collected charge carriers to incident photons) that peaked at 114 ± 1% in the best device measured. The associated internal quantum efficiency (corrected for reflection and absorption losses) was 130%. We compare our results with transient absorption measurements of MEG in isolated PbSe QDs and find reasonable agreement. Our findings demonstrate that MEG charge carriers can be collected in suitably designed QD solar cells, providing ample incentive to better understand MEG within isolated and coupled QDs as a research path to enhancing the efficiency of solar light harvesting technologies.",

keywords = "MEG, multiple exciton generation, nanocrystals, quantum dot solar cell, semiconductor",

author = "Semonin, {Octavi E.} and Luther, {Joseph M.} and Sukgeun Choi and Chen, {Hsiang Yu} and Jianbo Gao and Nozik, {Arthur J.} and Beard, {Matthew C.}",

year = "2011",

doi = "10.1126/science.1209845",

language = "American English",

volume = "334",

pages = "1530--1533",

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publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6062",

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T1 - Peak External Photocurrent Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 100% via MEG in a Quantum Dot Solar Cell

AU - Semonin, Octavi E.

AU - Luther, Joseph M.

AU - Choi, Sukgeun

AU - Chen, Hsiang Yu

AU - Gao, Jianbo

AU - Nozik, Arthur J.

AU - Beard, Matthew C.

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is a process that can occur in semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots (QDs), whereby absorption of a photon bearing at least twice the bandgap energy produces two or more electron-hole pairs. Here, we report on photocurrent enhancement arising from MEG in lead selenide (PbSe) QD-based solar cells, as manifested by an external quantum efficiency (the spectrally resolved ratio of collected charge carriers to incident photons) that peaked at 114 ± 1% in the best device measured. The associated internal quantum efficiency (corrected for reflection and absorption losses) was 130%. We compare our results with transient absorption measurements of MEG in isolated PbSe QDs and find reasonable agreement. Our findings demonstrate that MEG charge carriers can be collected in suitably designed QD solar cells, providing ample incentive to better understand MEG within isolated and coupled QDs as a research path to enhancing the efficiency of solar light harvesting technologies.

AB - Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is a process that can occur in semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots (QDs), whereby absorption of a photon bearing at least twice the bandgap energy produces two or more electron-hole pairs. Here, we report on photocurrent enhancement arising from MEG in lead selenide (PbSe) QD-based solar cells, as manifested by an external quantum efficiency (the spectrally resolved ratio of collected charge carriers to incident photons) that peaked at 114 ± 1% in the best device measured. The associated internal quantum efficiency (corrected for reflection and absorption losses) was 130%. We compare our results with transient absorption measurements of MEG in isolated PbSe QDs and find reasonable agreement. Our findings demonstrate that MEG charge carriers can be collected in suitably designed QD solar cells, providing ample incentive to better understand MEG within isolated and coupled QDs as a research path to enhancing the efficiency of solar light harvesting technologies.

KW - MEG

KW - multiple exciton generation

KW - nanocrystals

KW - quantum dot solar cell

KW - semiconductor

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EP - 1533

JO - Science

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ER -

Peak External Photocurrent Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 100% via MEG in a Quantum Dot Solar Cell

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Keywords

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