Skip to main content
Log in

Fabrication of silicon microwire arrays for photovoltaic applications

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel method of combining photolithography, wet chemical etching and oxidation process was proposed to fabricate large area of silicon microwire (SiMW) arrays. The dimensions of the SiMWs can be easily controlled by photomask and etching conditions. Solar cells based on the heterojunction between SiMW and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) were constructed. The initial test on the DWNT/SiMW shows efficiency (η) of 0.59%. By adding a few drops of HBr/B2 electrolyte, the efficiency was improved to 1.96% with J sc=19.2 mA/cm2 and V oc=0.35 V, FF=29.2%, showing the potential of SiMWs in photovoltaic applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B.Z. Tian, X.L. Zheng, T.J. Kempa, Y. Fang, N.F. Yu, G.H. Yu, J.L. Huang, C.M. Lieber, Nature 449, 885 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. H. Fang, X.D. Li, S. Song, Y. Xu, J. Zhu, Nanotechnology 19, 255703 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. V. Sivakov, G. Andrae, A. Gawlik, A. Berger, J. Plentz, F. Falk, S.H. Christiansen, Nano Lett. 9, 1549 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Yoon, A.J. Baca, S.I. Park, P. Elvikis, J.B. Geddes, L.F. Li, R.H. Kim, J.L. Xiao, S.D. Wang, T.H. Kim, M.J. Motala, B.Y. Ahn, E.B. Duoss, J.A. Lewis, R.G. Nuzzo, P.M. Ferreira, Y.G. Huang, A. Rockett, J.A. Rogers, Nature Mater. 7, 907 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. K.E. Plass, M.A. Filler, J.M. Spurgeon, B.M. Kayes, S. Maldonado, B.S. Brunschwig, H.A. Atwater, N.S. Lewis, Adv. Mater. 21, 325 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J.Q. Wei, Y. Jia, Q.K. Shu, Z.Y. Gu, K.L. Wang, D.M. Zhuang, G. Zhang, Z.C. Wang, J.B. Luo, A.Y. Cao, D.H. Wu, Nano Lett. 7, 2317 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Y. Jia, J.Q. Wei, K.L. Wang, A.Y. Cao, Q.K. Shu, X.C. Gui, Y.Q. Zhu, D.M. Zhuang, G. Zhang, B.B. Ma, L.D. Wang, W.J. Liu, Z.C. Wang, J.B. Luo, D.H. Wu, Adv. Mater. 20, 4594 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Q.K. Shu, J.Q. Wei, K.L. Wang, H.W. Zhu, Z. Li, Y. Jia, X.C. Gui, N. Guo, X.M. Li, C.R. Ma, D.H. Wu, Nano Lett. 9, 4338 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. M.D. Kelzenberg, D.B. Turner-Evans, B.M. Kayes, M.A. Filler, M.C. Putnam, N.S. Lewis, H.A. Atwater, Nano Lett. 8, 710 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. U. Sokmen, A. Stranz, S. Fundling, H.H. Wehmann, V. Bandalo, A. Bora, M. Tornow, A. Waag, E. Peiner, J. Micromech. Microeng. 9, 105005 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. K.J. Morton, G. Nieberg, S.F. Bai, S.Y. Chou, Nanotechnology 19, 345301 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. J. Baca, M.A. Meitl, H.C. Ko, S. Mack, H.S. Kim, J.Y. Dong, P.M. Ferreira, J.A. Rogers, Adv. Funct. Mater. 17, 3051 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. K.Q. Peng, Z.P. Huang, J. Zhu, Adv. Mater. 16, 73 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Z.P. Huang, H. Fang, J. Zhu, Adv. Mater. 19, 744 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. K.Q. Peng, X. Wang, X.L. Wu, S.T. Lee, Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 143119 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. J.D. Holmes, K.P. Johnston, R.C. Doty, B.A. Korgel, Science 287, 1471 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J.M. Spurgeon, K.E. Plass, B.M. Kayes, B.S. Brunschwig, H.A. Atwater, N.S. Lewis, Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 032112 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. J.Q. Wei, L.J. Ci, B. Jiang, Y.H. Li, X.F. Zhang, H.W. Zhu, C.L. Xu, D.H. Wu, J. Mater. Chem. 13, 1340 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.Q. Wei, H.W. Zhu, Y.H. Li, B. Chen, Y. Jia, K.L. Wang, Z.C. Wang, W.J. Liu, J.B. Luo, M.X. Zheng, D.H. Wu, Y.Q. Zhu, B.Q. Wei, Adv. Mater. 18, 1695 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. J.W. Mintmire, C.T. White, Carbon 33, 893 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. P. Liu, Q. Sun, F. Zhu, K. Liu, K.L. Jiang, L. Liu, Q.Q. Li, S.S. Fan, Nano Lett. 8, 647 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. S.M. Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, 2nd edn. (Wiley, New York, 1981)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinquan Wei.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

(DOC 5887 kB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guo, N., Wei, J., Shu, Q. et al. Fabrication of silicon microwire arrays for photovoltaic applications. Appl. Phys. A 102, 109–114 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-6009-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-6009-1

Keywords

Navigation