Junctionless nanostructure solar cells

NANOSOL is built on the novel and unorthodox concept of light harvesting, which enables light-to-energy conversion in a single material without the assistance of a PN junction. These solar cells are semiconductor nanostructures shaped as nanoribbons (NRs). The NRs have unique advantages — they lack inversion symmetry in bulk. Their lack of inversion symmetry opens new avenues for designing junctionless solar cells that exploit light harvesting based on the bulk photovoltaic effect, i.e., a nonlinear process that converts solar light into electricity without a PN junction. Thin-film solar cells have the potential to harvest solar energy at a low cost and thus are the ideal candidates for addressing the energy crisis and reducing carbon emissions. Conventional thin-film photovoltaics rely on p-n heterostructures, which limits the maximum attainable voltage in devices due to recombination at the p-n heterointerface. In this project, I propose to experimentally demonstrate a novel concept of solar cell devices consisting of single-phase and abundant materials that can enable the highest obtainable voltage in light-harvesting devices. This platform will allow nano-solar cell technology featuring ultra-thinness and flexibility. It can pave the way for next-generation efficient light harvesting in exotic quantum materials in a way that has not been done before.