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Development of solar cell architectures using quantum nanostructures for fundamentally increasing the power conversion efficiency

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18KK0145
Research Category

Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Medium-sized Section 30:Applied physics and engineering and related fields
Research InstitutionKobe University

Principal Investigator

Kita Takashi  神戸大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (10221186)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 原田 幸弘  神戸大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (10554355)
朝日 重雄  神戸大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (60782729)
Project Period (FY) 2018-10-09 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥17,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,140,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥6,240,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,440,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Keywords太陽電池 / 量子ナノ構造 / 量子ドット / アップコンバージョン
Outline of Final Research Achievements

High-efficiency photovoltaics using n-i-p semiconductor solar cells offer a sustainable and carbon-free solution to the challenge of meeting the increasing global energy demand. The photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency for a single-junction solar cell is limited to ~30% owing to various losses, such as transmission loss and thermalisation loss. In this research project, we develop novel solar cell architectures utilizing quantum nanostructures for fundamentally increasing the efficiency. Efficiencies beyond the limit can be achieved for a single junction solar cell by extending the absorbable solar spectrum range using the process of multiple photo-excitations in quantum nanostructures. In this international research collaborating with The University of New South Wales (Australia), the international collaborator have carried out studies with the young scientist on spectroscopy for the multiple photo-excitation process in solar cells containing quantum nanostructures.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

太陽電池の変換効率を単接合型構造の限界である約30%を超えて大きくするには、太陽光スペクトルを広くカバーして有効に利用することが重要である。そのためにもっともよく知られた構造が、多接合型太陽電池である。しかし、構造の複雑化に伴って技術的には極限レベルに近づいており、効率の進歩が鈍化している。本国際共同研究は独自の着想による半導体ヘテロ界面に量子ドットを挿入した量子ナノ構造におけるバンド内光学遷移エンジニアリングを利用したものであり、高効率なアップコンバージョンによって変換効率は最大で63%となる極めて有望な太陽電池を実現する根本原理を明らかにしている。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (38 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 2018 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (2 results) Journal Article (8 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 8 results,  Open Access: 5 results) Presentation (24 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 8 results,  Invited: 1 results) Book (1 results) Remarks (3 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] ニューサウスウェールズ大学(オーストリア)

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] ニューサウスウェールズ大学(オーストラリア)

    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Journal Article] Two-Step Excitation Induced Photovoltaic Properties in an InAs Quantum Dot-In-Well Intermediate-Band Solar Cell2021

    • Author(s)
      Y. Zhu, S. Asahi, K. Watanabe, N. Miyashita, Y. Okada, and T. Kita
    • Journal Title

      J. Appl. Phys.

      Volume: 129 Issue: 7 Pages: 074503-074503

    • DOI

      10.1063/5.0036313

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Infrared Photodetector Sensitized by InAs Quantum Dots Embedded Near an Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs Heterointerface2020

    • Author(s)
      T. Murata, S. Asahi, Stefano Sanguinetti, and T. Kita
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 10 Issue: 1

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41598-020-68461-w

    • NAID

      120006876707

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Reciprocal Relation Between Intraband Carrier Generation and interband Recombination at the Heterointerface of Two-Step Photon Up-Conversion Solar Cells2020

    • Author(s)
      N. Kinugawa, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Journal Title

      Physical Review Applied

      Volume: 14 Issue: 1

    • DOI

      10.1103/physrevapplied.14.014010

    • NAID

      120006888548

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Bound-to-continuum intraband transition properties in InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice solar cells2019

    • Author(s)
      Yukihiro Harada, Shigeo Asahi, Takashi Kita
    • Journal Title

      Applied Physics Express

      Volume: 12 Issue: 12 Pages: 125008-125008

    • DOI

      10.7567/1882-0786/ab56ef

    • NAID

      210000157573

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Hot-carrier generation and extraction in InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice solar cells2019

    • Author(s)
      Yukihiro Harada, Naoto Iwata, Shigeo Asahi, Takashi Kita
    • Journal Title

      Semiconductor Science and Technology

      Volume: 34 Issue: 9 Pages: 094003-094003

    • DOI

      10.1088/1361-6641/ab33a2

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Adiabatic Two-Step Photoexcitation Effects in Intermediate-Band Solar Cells with Quantum Dot-in-Well Structure2019

    • Author(s)
      S. Asahi, T. Kaizu, and T. Kita
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 9

    • NAID

      120006645698

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Reply to: Thermal Artefacts in Two-Photon Solar Cell Experiments2019

    • Author(s)
      S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Journal Title

      Nature Communications

      Volume: 10

    • NAID

      120006713586

    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] 高変換効率太陽光発電の研究開発~50%を超える変換効率実現に向けた取り組み2018

    • Author(s)
      喜多隆
    • Journal Title

      電気評論

      Volume: 6 Pages: 13-17

    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] Up-Converted Photocurrent Enhancement in Modulation-Doped Two-Step Photon Up-Conversion Solar Cells2020

    • Author(s)
      K. Watanabe, S. Asahi, Y. Zhu, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Intensive-Light-Induced Backtracking Voltage Phenomenon: An Insight into Intermediate-Band Solar Cell Output Performance2020

    • Author(s)
      Y. Zhu, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Efficiency Compensation from Intraband Transitions of Opposite Carrier in a Quantum Dot-in-Well Intermediate Band Solar Cell2020

    • Author(s)
      Y. Zhu, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      第68回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 変調ドープした二段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池における電圧上昇効果2020

    • Author(s)
      渡辺航平、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第68回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Development of Mid-Infrared Photodetector Can Operate Under Room Temperature with High Sensitivity Using Intraband Transition2020

    • Author(s)
      K. Nakabayashi, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      第39回電子材料シンポジウム
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Performance Analysis of an InAs/GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As Quantum Dot-in-Well Intermediate Band Solar Cell Under Two-Step Photoexcitations2020

    • Author(s)
      Y. Zhu, S. Asahi, K. Watanabe and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      第39回電子材料シンポジウム
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Dramatic Enhancement of Current and Voltage in Modulation-Doped Two-Step Photon Up-Conversion Solar Cells”2020

    • Author(s)
      K. Watanabe, S. Asahi, Y. Zhu, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      第39回電子材料シンポジウム
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 正孔のアップコンバージョンを利用した2段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池の追加赤外光による光電流減少メカニズム2020

    • Author(s)
      朝日重雄、M. Nielsen, N.J. Ekins-Daukes, 喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第81回応用物理学会秋季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Performance Degradation of Quantum Dot-in-Well Intermediate Band Solar Cell Under Intense Bi-Color Barrier and Intraband Photoexcitations2020

    • Author(s)
      Y.Zhu, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      第81回応用物理学会秋季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 変調ドープした二段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池における光励起効率の向2020

    • Author(s)
      渡辺航平、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第81回応用物理学会秋季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 変調ドープによるフォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池の特性制御2020

    • Author(s)
      渡辺航平、朝日重雄、Yaxing Zhu、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      日本材料学会半導体エレクトロニクス部門委員会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 2段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池におけるバンド内遷移特性2020

    • Author(s)
      原田幸弘、草木和輝、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第67回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 変調ドープした二段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池におけるアップコンバージョン電流増大2020

    • Author(s)
      渡辺航平、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第67回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Excitation Energy Dependence of Hot-Carrier Extraction Process in InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot Superlattice Solar Cells2019

    • Author(s)
      Y. Harada, N. Iwata, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      7th International Workshop on Epitaxial Growth and Fundamental Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Effect of the accumulated Electron Density at the Hetero-Interface in Two-Step Photon-Up Conversion Solar Cells2019

    • Author(s)
      S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      7th International Workshop on Epitaxial Growth and Fundamental Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Extensively-Prolonged Electron Lifetime Within Room Temperature Upon InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot-in-Well Solar Cell2019

    • Author(s)
      Y. Zhu, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      7th International Workshop on Epitaxial Growth and Fundamental Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Hot-Carrier Extraction in InAs/GaAs Quantum Dot Superlattice Solar Cells2019

    • Author(s)
      Y. Harada, N. Iwata, D. Watanabe, S. Asahi, and T. Kita
    • Organizer
      46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] S. Asahi, and T. Kita2019

    • Author(s)
      Strong Voltage-Boost Effect in Two-Step Photon-Up Conversion Solar Cells
    • Organizer
      46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] N. Kinugawa, S. Asahi, and T. Kita2019

    • Author(s)
      Reciprocal Relationship Between Photoluminescence and Photocurrent in Two-Step Photon Up-Conversion Solar Cell
    • Organizer
      46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 2段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池における光電流と輻射再結合電流の相反関係及びキャリア収集特性2019

    • Author(s)
      絹川典志、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第30回光物性研究会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 正孔のアップコンバージョンを利用したフォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池の基礎検討2019

    • Author(s)
      朝日重雄、 柴村和樹、 草木和輝、 喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第66回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池における輻射再結合と光電流の相反性2019

    • Author(s)
      絹川典志、 朝日重雄、 喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第66回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Up-Conversion Dynamics in Nanostructure2018

    • Author(s)
      T. Kita
    • Organizer
      Round-Table Workshop on Future Quantum Photovoltaics, University of Cambridge
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] ヘテロ界面を利用した2段階フォトンアップコンバージョン太陽電池における輻射再結合過程2018

    • Author(s)
      絹川典志、朝日重雄、喜多隆
    • Organizer
      第29回光物性研究会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Book] Energy Conversion Efficiency of Solar Cells2019

    • Author(s)
      Takashi Kita, Yukihiro Harada, and Shigeo Asahi
    • Total Pages
      202
    • Publisher
      Springer
    • ISBN
      9789811390883
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] 神戸大学フォトニック材料学研究室

    • URL

      http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/eng-photonics/

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] 神戸大学工学研究科フォトニック材料学研究室

    • URL

      http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/eng-photonics/

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] 神戸大学大学院工学研究科喜多研究室

    • URL

      http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/eng-photonics/

    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report

URL: 

Published: 2018-10-12   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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