GaAs / GaInNAs Solar Cells with Multiple Quantum Wells and Superlattices

Abstract

A theoretical study of the GaAs/GaInNAs solar cells based on a multi-quantum wells (MQWSC) and superlattices (SLSC) con- guration is presented for the rst time. The conversion ef- ciency as a function of wells width and depth is modeled. The photon absorption increases with the quantum well levels incorporation and therefore the photocurrent as well. It is shown that the MQWSC efciency overcomes the solar cells without quantum wells about 25%. A study of the SLSC viability is also presented. The conditions for resonant tunneling are established by the matrix transfer method for a superlattice with variable quantum wells width. The effective density of states and the absorption coefcients for SL structure are calculated in order to determinate the J-V characteristic. The inuence of the superlattice or cluster width in the cell efciency is researched showing a better performance when width and the number of cluster are increased. The SLSC efciency is compared with the optimum efciency obtained for the MQWSC showing that it is reached an amazing in-crement of 27%.