High-efficiency silicon hybrid solar cells employing nanocrystalline Si quantum dots and Si nanotips for energy management

We have achieved an efficiency of 13.73% in PEDOT:PSS/Si hybrid solar cells by employing nanocrystalline silicon quantum dots (nc-Si QDs). This form of efficiency enhancement derives from energy transfer from nc-Si QDs to the underlying layer of the Si nanostructure with high carrier separation and propagation via the core-shell of Si/PEDOT:PSS layer, leading to enhanced photovoltaic effects. The short-circuit current density, open circuit voltage and fill factor are increased from 34.07 mA/cm(2) to 37.85 mA/cm(2), 0.539 V to 0.595 V, and 56.51% to 60.91%, respectively. Higher short-circuit density and open-circuit voltage are obtained due to energy transfer management and optimization of surface defects. These techniques hold future promise for developing energy transfer-managed, low-cost and high-efficiency photovoltaic cells.