Effects of quantum wells position and background doping on the performance of multiple quantum well solar cells

Effects of multiple quantum well (MQW) position and p-type background doping in InGaAs / GaAsP MQW solar cells have been investigated using a semiconductor device simulator, APSYS, focusing on short circuit current I_sc. With a high p-type background doping, degradation of I_sc as MQW approaches p-region occurs due to recombination in the p-region. Carriers generated in the n-region are found out to be less sensitive to background doping than those in the p-region. Background doping also has indesired influences on carrier escape from wells, a critical issue for design of quantum well solar cells.