Design of InP-based truncated nanopyramid solar cells with conformal coating of PEDOT: PSS for improved light harvesting efficiency

Abstract

III-V nanostructure-based solar cells (SCs), with remarkable performance improvement in recent years, are considered as promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaics. In this paper, we present a simulation study of a new structure of PEDOT:PSS/InP truncated nanopyramid (TNP) Hybrid Solar Cell (HSC) using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. In the TNP-HSC, the nanopyramids (NPs) are flattened from the top to increase the photon capturing capability and then the TNPs are coated with PEDOT:PSS to enhance the light absorption in the long-wavelength region of solar spectral irradiance. Besides, to delineate the mechanism of photo-absorption enhancement in the proposed structure, a rigorous analysis of the electric field and photo-generation rate profiles at different wavelengths is performed. The simulation results show that the PEDOT:PSS coated of InP TNP exhibits better performance than uncoated InP NP SCs or planar counterpart. In addition, the optimization of the geometrical parameters of InP TNPs, including period, lattice constant, top surface flatness, and coating thickness, leads to the power conversion efficiency of 24.73%, which is 1.8 times greater than its planar counterpart. • Role of nanopyramids in PEDOT:PSS/InP solar cells studied using FDTD method. • Optimization of nanostructure done in terms of optical Jsc. • Truncated nanopyramids exhibit better absorption than pointed nanopyramids. • Electrical Jsc of 27 mA/cm2 is obtained with ITO/InP TNP/Al Solar cell structure. • Photo Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of 24.73% is achieved with our optimized.