Ideal quantum well solar cell designs

In this paper, the effectiveness of a new model used to design ideal quantum well solar cells (QWSC) is presented. This is achieved through the presentation of a series of ideal designs for which performance levels/absolute efficiencies are determined. Initially, we review the series of models and forge the links to obtain the overall model presented here. Further work leads to the proposal of three hypothetical QWSC designs and one a control p–i–n structure. Their performance levels are compared and discussed. The intention of this work is to justify the previous mathematical models to which this new model is based. This is done by comparison of the new modelʹs results to an existing modelʹs results. This shows QWSC design efficiencies ranging 23–29% with a discrepancy of ±1.5% between presented and existing models. Further work justifying the new model leads to one other QWSC design being presented for which experimental data exists. Comparisons with experimental data show a discrepancy of 5%. The previous models used to design the structure have been experimentally verified prior to the designs being presented. The work presented here justifies these models and shows their effectiveness at designing QWSCs. This would prove to be beneficial to designers.