The photoresponse spectrum of the solar cell is measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer interfaced with a preamplifier at 300 K without external bias voltage, as shown in Figure 2a. The

spectrum shows four distinct peaks at 645, 760, 817, and 864 nm. The photoresponse peak observed around 645 nm (1.92 eV) is due to interband transitions in the Al0.33Ga0.67As barriers. The broad photoresponse band covering 760 nm (1.63 eV) and 817 nm (1.52 eV) can Selleck mTOR inhibitor be assigned to the interband transitions through the energy levels in the GaAs quantum rings, while the peak around 864 nm (1.43 eV) is due to the bulk GaAs. Figure 2b shows the current selleck compound density voltage characteristics of a quantum ring solar cell and a quantum well solar cell as reference cells. For www.selleckchem.com/products/Imatinib-Mesylate.html the quantum ring solar cell, both the current density and fill factor are low. However, the quantum well solar cell with a similar device structure has a better performance in terms of current density and fill factor. A careful examination can reveal an increase of open-circuit voltage of the quantum

ring solar cells. The IBSC is intended to increase the voltage at the expense of some of the sub-bandgap current because some of the intermediate band states are filled with electrons preventing transitions from the valence band to these filled intermediate band states [14]. Here, a plausible explanation is that the quantum ring solar cell, instead of the quantum well solar cell, forms an isolated intermediate band from the conduction band due to three-dimensional confinement OSBPL9 and preserves the open-circuit voltage with reduced current. Moreover, since the open-circuit voltage is about the same for both quantum ring and quantum well solar cells, we also attributed the reduction in short-circuit current and fill fact of the quantum ring solar cell to the high series resistance and non-radiative

recombination centers. Both quantum ring and quantum well solar cells are fabricated with similar processes, and the possibility for a difference in the contact resistance can be ruled out. Here in this study, the quantum rings and 10 nm of AlGaAs (totally 30 nm) barrier are fabricated at 400°C, which is lower than the typical growth temperature for GaAs and AlGaAs. The low-temperature growth of quantum rings and barriers is expected to generate various defects and cause degradation of material quality. These defects can act as majority carrier traps which lead to a reduction of carrier concentration and an increase in series resistance. Figure 2 Photoresponse of the quantum ring solar cell and current density voltage characteristics of solar cells. (a) Photoresponse of the quantum ring solar cell at 300 K. (b) Current density voltage characteristics of a quantum ring solar cell (QRSC) and a quantum well solar cell (QWSC). Post-growth thermal treatments have been used to recover the material quality of quantum structures grown at low temperature.