CdSe nanowire solar cells

Cadmium selenide nanowire solar cells with copper-doped zinc telluride window layers were designed and fabricated. I-V characterization was conducted in the dark and under illumination by a halogen lamp. Open-circuit voltages as high as 188 mV were obtained, though short-circuit currents were on the order of nA. The low currents are attributed to the small fraction of nanowires which protrude from the isolation layer and contribute to the device output. These devices also showed significant shunting, which is attributed to Cu migration through the ZnTe layer, as well as series resistance. The maximum open-circuit voltage of 188 mV was on the order of similar film-based cells in literature. Future applications in spectrum-splitting solar cells based on spatially composition-graded alloy nanowires in the Cd_xPb_1-xS_ySe_1-y materials system will be discussed.