A HYBRID MODEL FOR QUANTUM WELL SOLAR CELLS

Abstract

Quantum and classical components are blended together in this proposed theoretical model for describing multiple quantum well solar cells (MQWSC) in a p-i-n architecture. The model characteristics are: the use of transfer matrix as a quantum method for finding allowed energies in the coupled quantum wells, the connection of the absorption coefficient in the confined 2D structure to the one in the bulk semiconductor, and the treatment of the whole cell as a pseudo-homogeneous media to determine its reflectance. The resulted model is intended to be a working tool to assess electro-optical properties of MQWSC. Numerical results which relate the performance of the MQWSC to its structure are reported.