Simulation study of Schottky contact based single Si wire solar cell

Abstract

We simulate single silicon nanowire (SiNW) solar cells with dissimilar work function metal contacts. Both short circuit current (ISC) and open circuit voltage (VOC) have been investigated. Effects of nanowire dimension, minority carrier lifetime, and contact metal work function difference are understood through simulations. Both ISC and VOC increase with nanowire length but saturate due to minority carrier recombination. The saturation length is found to be five times the diffusion length. The larger the contact work function difference, the more improved the solar cell characteristics. Large work function differences may also avoid need for any doping in axial p-i-n nanowire solar cells. Saturation in ISC as well as degradation in current density with length can be minimized by spreading the contacts along the length of the nanowire.