Enhancing the Efficiency of Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells by the Inkjet Printing of Silicon-Quantum-Dot Ink

Abstract

Among all types of solar cells, multicrystalline silicon (Si) solar cells are the most widely produced. The enhancement of the efficiency of multicrystalline Si solar cells may help broaden the deployment of solar cells worldwide. Here we show that the efficiency of state-of-the-art commercially produced multicrystalline Si solar cells can be enhanced by a simple inkjet printing of Si-quantum-dot (Si-QD) ink at the solar cell surface. It is found that the efficiency enhancement results from both the down-shifting of Si QDs and the antireflection of porous Si-QD films at the solar cell surface. The current results demonstrate that Si-based nanotechnology can facilitate the continuous development of traditional Si solar cells.