Abstract

Thermalization of photogenerated carriers in bulk materials is the main bottleneck for the conversion efficiency of conventional inorganic solar cells. Furthermore, despite extensive research, the achieved conversion efficiency is nearly saturated during the last decade. Therefore, new device concepts to break through the efficiency barrier are highly requested. Nanotechnologies are the building blocks for next-generation solar cells, because low-dimensional quantum structures can possibly reduce thermalization and extend the light absorption range. Hereafter, recently invented inorganic solar cells using quantum structures will be reviewed.

Keywords: Inorganic solar cell, multiple quantum well, superlattice, quantum dot, multilayer, nanorod