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Modeling and simulation of the influence of quantum dots density on solar cell properties

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Abstract

Based on the finite element method using the FEniCS computing platform and python programming, we solve the Schrödinger equation within the effective mass approximation. Its solution gives us the necessary energy for an electron to transit from an intermediate band to a conduction band, as well as the distribution of probability density within the system. In this work, we have investigated the efficiency of the InAs/GaAs pyramid quantum dot intermediate band solar cell (PQD-IBSC) as a function of the structure parameters and quantum dot density. The simulation results indicated the strong dependence of the efficiency of PQD-IBSC on the confinement effect, quantum dot number or quantum dot density and coupling strength. The conversion efficiency grows from 14.4587% to the optimal efficiency 17.8807%. Generally, the best efficiency is obtained for small barrier width, large quantum dot height and great quantum dot density.

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Data Availability Statement

This manuscript has associated data in a data repository. [Authors’ comment: All data included in this manuscript are available upon request by contacting with the corresponding author.]

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (NCSTR) in Morocco.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Solid Physics (LPS), Faculty of Science, Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1796, Fez, Morocco

    M. Jaouane, A. Fakkahi, K. El-Bakkari, R. Arraoui & A. Sali

  2. Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, Georesources and Renewable Energies (SIGER), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, 2202, Fez, Morocco

    A. Ed-Dahmouny

  3. Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, 58140, Sivas, Turkey

    A. Turker Tuzemen

  4. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, 58140, Sivas, Turkey

    F. Ungan

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  1. M. Jaouane
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Contributions

M. Jaouane, F. Ungan and A. Sali contributed to conceptualization, acquisition of data, formal analysis, drafting the manuscript, revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, approval of the version of the manuscript to be published; M. Jaouane, A. Fakkahi, A. Ed-Dahmouny, and A. Sali contributed to conceptualization, acquisition of data, formal analysis, drafting the manuscript, revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, approval of the version of the manuscript to be published; M. Jaouane, A. Turker Tuzemen, R. Arraoui and F. Ungan contributed to conceptualization, formal analysis, approval of the version of the manuscript to be published.

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Correspondence to M. Jaouane.

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Jaouane, M., Fakkahi, A., Ed-Dahmouny, A. et al. Modeling and simulation of the influence of quantum dots density on solar cell properties. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 138, 148 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03736-5

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