Quantum well double barrier resonant tunneling structures for selective contacts of hot carrier solar cells

Properties of hot carrier solar cells (HCSC) with several types of selective contacts are analyzed. Quantum dots (QD) based double barrier resonant tunneling structures (DBRTS), quantum well (QW) based DBRTS and single barrier (SB) structures are considered as selective contacts and the possibility of selective contacts consist of simpler structures is studied. The analytical method is based on a detailed balance calculation taking into account the energy distribution of carriers transmitting the selective contacts. Calculated results indicate that the maximum conversion efficiency of HCSC with the absorber band gap of 0.7 eV reaches 64% and 57% for the use of selective contacts consist of a QW-DBRTS and a SB structure, respectively, under full concentrated blackbody radiation at 5760K. Although these values are less than the maximum efficiency of the ideal HCSC (80%) with the same absorber band gap, they are still considerably higher than the efficiency limit of conventional solar cells. Due to its simplicity and maturity of fabrication technique, to use selective contacts consist of simpler structures such as QW-DBRTS and SB structures should be reasonable and attractive alternative for experimental investigation on HCSC.